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and gray； and wonderfully tender。 In complexion he could not
compare with Rosa； his cheek was clear； but pale； for few young men
had studied night and day so constantly。 Though but twenty…eight
years of age； he was literally a learned physician； deep in
hospital practice； deep in books； especially deep in German
science； too often neglected or skimmed by English physicians。 He
had delivered a course of lectures at a learned university with
general applause。
As my reader has divined； Rosa was preparing the comedy of a cool
reception； but looking up； she saw his pale cheek tinted with a
lover's beautiful joy at the bare sight of her； and his soft eye so
divine with love； that she had not the heart to chill him。 She
gave him her hand kindly； and smiled brightly on him instead of
remonstrating。 She lost nothing by it； for the very first thing he
did was to excuse himself eagerly。 〃I am behind time： the fact is；
just as I was mounting my horse； a poor man came to the gate to
consult me。 He had a terrible disorder I have sometimes succeeded
in arrestingI attack the cause instead of the symptoms； which is
the old practiceand so that detained me。 You forgive me？〃
〃Of course。 Poor man！only you said you wanted to see papa； and
he always goes out at two。〃
When she had been betrayed into saying this； she drew in suddenly；
and blushed with a pretty consciousness。
〃Then don't let me lose another minute；〃 said the lover。 〃Have you
prepared him forforwhat I am going to have the audacity to
say？〃
Rosa answered； with some hesitation； 〃I MUST havea little。 When
I refused Colonel Brightyou need not devour my hand quitehe is
forty。〃
Her sentence ended； and away went the original topic； and
grammatical sequence along with it。 Christopher Staines recaptured
them both。 〃Yes； dear； when you refused Colonel Bright〃
〃Well； papa was astonished； for everybody says the colonel is a
most eligible match。 Don't you hate that expression？ I do。
Eligible！〃
Christopher made due haste； and recaptured her。 〃Yes； love； your
papa said〃
〃I don't think I will tell you。 He asked me was there anybody
else； and of course I said 'No。'〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Oh； that is nothing； I had not time to make up my mind to tell the
truth。 I was taken by surprise； and you know one's first impulse
is to fibabout THAT。〃
〃But did you really deceive him？〃
〃No； I blushed； and he caught me； so he said； 'Come； now； there
was。'〃
〃And you said； 'Yes； there is；' like a brave girl as you are。〃
〃What； plump like that？ No； I was frightened out of my wits； like
a brave girl as I am not； and said I should never marry any one he
could disapprove； and thenoh； then I believe I began to cry。
Christopher； I'll tell you something； I find people leave off
teasing you when you crygentlemen； I mean。 Ladies go on all the
more。 So then dear papa kissed me； and told me I must not be
imprudent； and throw myself away； that was all； and I promised him
I never would。 I said he would be sure to approve my choice； and
he said he hoped so。 And so he will。〃
Dr。 Staines looked thoughtful； and said he hoped so too。 〃But now
it comes to the point of asking him for such a treasure； I feel my
deficiencies。〃
〃Why； what deficiencies？ You are young； and handsome； and good；
and ever so much cleverer than other people。 You have only to ask
for me； and insist on having me。 Come； dear； go and get it over。〃
She added； mighty coolly； 〃There is nothing so DREADFUL as
suspense。〃
〃I'll go this minute；〃 said he； and took a step towards the door；
but he turned； and in a moment was at her knees。 He took both her
hands in his； and pressed them to his beating bosom； while his
beautiful eyes poured love into hers point…blank。 〃May I tell him
you love me？ Oh； I know you cannot love me as I love you； but I
may say you love me a little； may I not？that will go farther with
him than anything else。 May I； Rosa； may I？a little？〃
His passion mastered her。 She dropped her head sweetly on his
shoulder； and murmured； 〃You know you may； my own。 Who would not
love you？〃
He parted lingeringly from her； then marched away； bold with love
and hope； to demand her hand in marriage。
Rosa leaned back in her chair； and quivered a little with new
emotions。 Christopher was right； she was not capable of loving
like him； but still the actual contact of so strong a passion made
her woman's nature vibrate。 A dewy tear hung on the fringes of her
long lashes； and she leaned back in her chair and fluttered awhile。
That emotion； almost new to her； soon yielded； in her girlish mind；
to a complacent languor； and that； in its turn； to a soft reverie。
So she was going to be married！ To be mistress of a house； settle
in London （THAT she had quite determined long ago）； be able to go
out into the streets all alone； to shop； or visit； have a gentleman
all her own； whom she could put her finger on any moment and make
him take her about； even to the opera and the theatre； to give
dinner…parties her own self； and even a little ball once in a way；
to buy whatever dresses she thought proper； instead of being
crippled by an allowance； have the legal right of speaking first in
society； even to gentlemen rich in ideas but bad starters； instead
of sitting mumchance and mock…modest； to be Mistress； instead of
Misscontemptible title； to be a woman； instead of a girl； and all
this rational liberty； domestic power； and social dignity were to
be obtained by merely wedding a dear fellow； who loved her； and was
so nice； and the bright career to be ushered in with several
delights； each of them dear to a girl's very soul： presents from
all her friends； as many beautiful new dresses as if she was
changing her body or her hemisphere； instead of her name； eclat；
going to church； which is a good English girl's theatre of display
and temple of vanity； and there tasting delightful publicity and
whispered admiration； in a heavenly long veil； which she could not
wear even once if she remained single。
This bright variegated picture of holy wedlock； and its essential
features； as revealed to young ladies by feminine tradition； though
not enumerated in the Book of Common Prayer writ by grim males； so
entranced her； that time flew by unheeded； and Christopher Staines
came back from her father。 His step was heavy； he looked pale； and
deeply distressed； then stood like a statue； and did not come close
to her； but cast a piteous look； and gasped out one word； that
seemed almost to choke him；〃REFUSED！〃
Miss Lusignan rose from her chair； and looked almost wildly at him
with her great eyes。 〃Refused？〃 said she； faintly。
〃Yes；〃 said he； sadly。 〃Your father is a man of business； and he
took a mere business view of our love： he asked me directly what
provision I could make for his daughter and her children。 Well； I
told him I had three thousand pounds in the Funds； and a good
profession； and then I said I had youth； health； and love；
boundless love； the love that can do； or suffer； the love that can
conquer the world。〃
〃Dear Christopher！ And what COULD he say to all that？〃
〃He ignored it entirely。 There！ I'll give you h