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her； and then said； 〃That you are not； miss。 I never dressed a
young lady as wore 'em easier than you do。〃
〃There； papa！ That will do； Harriet。〃
Harriet retired as far as the keyhole； she saw something was up。
〃Now；〃 said Rosa； 〃you see I was right； and； after all； it was a
match you did not approve。 Well； it is all over； and now you may
write to your favorite； Colonel Bright。 If he comes here； I'll box
his old ears。 I hate him。 I hate them all。 Forgive your wayward
girl。 I'll stay with you all my days。 I dare say that will not be
long； now I have quarrelled with my guardian angel； and all for
what？ Papa！ papa！ how CAN you sit there and not speak me one word
of comfort？ 'SIMPLETON？' Ah！ that I am to throw away a love a
queen is scarcely worthy of； and all for what？ Really； if it
wasn't for the ingratitude and wickedness of the thing； it is too
laughable。 Ha！ ha！oh！ oh！ oh！ha！ ha！ ha！〃
And off she went into hysterics； and began to gulp and choke
frightfully。
Her father cried for help in dismay。 In ran Harriet； saw； and
screamed； but did not lose her head； this veracious person whipped
a pair of scissors off the table； and cut the young lady's stay…
laces directly。 Then there was a burst of imprisoned beauty； a
deep； deep sigh of relief came from a bosom that would have done
honor to Diana； and the scene soon concluded with fits of harmless
weeping； renewed at intervals。
When it had settled down to this； her father； to soothe her； said
he would write to Dr。 Staines； and bring about a reconciliation； if
she liked。
〃No；〃 said she； 〃you shall kill me sooner。 I should die of shame。〃
She added； 〃Oh； pray； from this hour； never mention his name to me。〃
And then she had another cry。
Mr。 Lusignan was a sensible man： he dropped the subject for the
present； but he made up his mind to one thingthat he would never
part with Dr。 Staines as a physician。
Next day Rosa kept her own room until dinner…time； and was as
unhappy as she deserved to be。 She spent her time in sewing on
stiff flannel linings and crying。 She half hoped Christopher would
write to her； so that she might write back that she forgave him。
But not a line。
At half…past six her volatile mind took a turn； real or affected。
She would cry no more for an ungrateful fellow；ungrateful for not
seeing through the stone walls how she had been employed all the
morning； and making it up。 So she bathed her red eyes； made a
great alteration in her dress； and came dancing into the room
humming an Italian ditty。
As they were sitting together in the dining…room after dinner； two
letters came by the same post to Mr。 Lusignan from Mr。 Wyman and
Dr。 Snell。
Mr。 Wyman's letter：
DEAR SIR；I am sorry to hear from Miss Lusignan that she intends
to discontinue medical advice。 The disorder was progressing
favorably； and nothing to be feared； under proper treatment。
Yours； etc。
Dr。 Snell's letter：
DEAR SIR；Miss Lusignan has written to me somewhat impatiently and
seems disposed to dispense with my visits。 I do not； however；
think it right to withdraw without telling you candidly that this
is an unwise step。 Your daughter's health is in a very precarious
condition。
Yours； etc。
Rosa burst out laughing。 〃I have nothing to fear； and I'm on the
brink of the grave。 That comes of writing without a consultation。
If they had written at one table； I should have been neither well
nor ill。 Poor Christopher！〃 and her sweet face began to work
piteously。
〃There！ there！ drink a glass of wine。〃
She did； and a tear with it； that ran into the glass like
lightning。
Warned by this that grief sat very near the bright； hilarious
surface； Mr。 Lusignan avoided all emotional subjects for the
present。 Next day； however； he told her she might dismiss her
lover； but no power should make him dismiss his pet physician；
unless her health improved。
〃I will not give you that excuse for inflicting him on me again；〃
said the young hypocrite。
She kept her word。 She got better and better； stronger； brighter；
gayer。
She took to walking every day； and increasing the distance； till
she could walk ten miles without fatigue。
Her favorite walk was to a certain cliff that commanded a noble
view of the sea。 To get to it she must pass through the town of
Gravesend； and we may be sure she did not pass so often through
that city without some idea of meeting the lover she had used so
ill； and eliciting an APOLOGY from him。 Sly puss！
When she had walked twenty times； or thereabouts； through the town；
and never seen him； she began to fear she had offended him past
hope。 Then she used to cry at the end of every walk。
But by and by bodily health； vanity； and temper combined to rouse
the defiant spirit。 Said she； 〃If he really loved me； he would not
take my word in such a hurry。 And besides； why does he not watch
me； and find out what I am doing； and where I walk？〃
At last she really began to persuade herself that she was an ill…
used and slighted girl。 She was very angry at times； and
disconsolate at others； a mixed state in which hasty and impulsive
young ladies commit lifelong follies。
Mr。 Lusignan observed the surface only： he saw his invalid daughter
getting better every day； till at last she became a picture of
health and bodily vigor。 Relieved of his fears； he troubled his
head but little about Christopher Staines。 Yet he esteemed him；
and had got to like him； but Rosa was a beauty； and could do better
than marry a struggling physician； however able。 He launched out
into a little gayety； resumed his quiet dinner…parties； and； after
some persuasion； took his now blooming daughter to a ball given by
the officers of Chatham。
She was the belle of the ball beyond dispute； and danced with
ethereal grace and athletic endurance。 She was madly fond of
waltzing； and here she encountered what she was pleased to call a
divine dancer。 It was a Mr。 Reginald Falcon； a gentleman who had
retired to the seaside to recruit his health and finances sore
tried by London and Paris。 Falcon had run through his fortune； but
had acquired； in the process； certain talents which； as they cost
the acquirer dear； so they sometimes repay him； especially if he is
not overburdened with principle； and adopts the notion that； the
world having plucked him； he has a right to pluck the world。 He
could play billiards well； but never so well as when backing
himself for a heavy stake。 He could shoot pigeons well； and his
shooting improved under that which makes some marksmen missa
heavy bet against the gun。 He danced to perfection； and being a
well…bred； experienced； brazen； adroit fellow； who knew a little of
everything that was going； he had always plenty to say。 Above all；
he had made a particular study of the fair sex； had met with many
successes； many rebuffs； and； at last； by keen study of their
minds； and a habit he had acquired of watching their faces； and
shifting his helm accordingly； had learned the great art of
pleasing them。 They admired his face； to me； the short space
between his eyes and his hair； his aquiline nose； and thin straight
lips； suggest