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after his fashion。 〃You can always sell the lease again for more
money。〃
Christopher kept cool。 〃I don't want a house to sell； but to live
in； and do my business； I am a physician： now the drawing…room is
built over the entrance to a mews； the back rooms all look into a
mews： we shall have the eternal noise and smell of a mews。 My
wife's rest will be broken by the carriages rolling in and out。
The hall is fearfully small and stuffy。 The rent is abominably
high； and what is the premium for； I wonder？〃
〃Always a premium in Mayfair； sir。 A lease is property here： the
gentleman is not acquainted with this part； madam。〃
〃Oh； yes； he is；〃 said Rosa； as boldly as a six years' wife： 〃he
knows everything。〃
〃Then he knows that a house of this kind at a hundred and thirty
pounds a year in Mayfair is a bank…note。〃
Staines turned to Rosa。 〃The poor patients； where am I to receive
them？〃
〃In the stable；〃 suggested the house agent。
〃Oh！〃 said Rosa； shocked。
〃Well； then； the coach…house。 Why； there's plenty of room for a
brougham； and one horse； and fifty poor patients at a time： beggars
musn't be choosers； if you give them physic gratis； that is enough：
you ain't bound to find 'em a palace to sit down in； and hot coffee
and rump steaks all round； doctor。〃
This tickled Rosa so that she burst out laughing； and thenceforward
giggled at intervals； wit of this refined nature having all the
charm of novelty for her。
They inspected the stables； which were indeed the one redeeming
feature in the horrid little Bijou； and then the agent would show
them the kitchen； and the new stove。 He expatiated on this to Mrs。
Staines。 〃Cook a dinner for thirty people； madam。〃
〃And there's room for them to eat itin the road；〃 said Staines。
The agent reminded him there were larger places to be had； by a
very simple process； viz。； paying for them。
Staines thought of the large； comfortable house in Harewood Square。
〃One hundred and thirty pounds a year for this poky little hole？〃
he groaned。
〃Why； it is nothing at all for a Bijou。〃
〃But it is too much for a bandbox。〃
Rosa laid her hand on his arm； with an imploring glance。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃I'll submit to the rent； but I really cannot give
the premium； it is too ridiculous。 He ought to bribe me to rent
it； not I him。〃
〃Can't be done without； sir。〃
〃Well； I'll give a hundred pounds and no more。〃
〃Impossible； sir。〃
〃Then good morning。 Now； dearest； just come and see the house at
Harewood Square；eighty…five pounds and no premium。〃
〃Will you oblige me with your address； doctor？〃 said the agent。
〃Dr。 Staines； Morley's Hotel。〃
And so they left Mayfair。
Rosa sighed and said； 〃Oh； the nice little place； and we have lost
it for two hundred pounds。〃
〃Two hundred pounds is a great deal for us to throw away。〃
〃Being near the Coles would soon have made that up to you： and such
a cosey little nest。〃
〃Well the house will not run away。〃
〃But somebody is sure to snap it up。 It is a Bijou。〃 She was
disappointed； and half inclined to pout。 But she vented her
feelings in a letter to her beloved Florry； and appeared at dinner
as sweet as usual。
During dinner a note came from the agent； accepting Dr。 Staine's
offer。 He glozed the matter thus： he had persuaded the owner it
was better to take a good tenant at a moderate loss； than to let
the Bijou be uninhabited during the present rainy season。 An
assignment of the leasewhich contained the usual covenantswould
be prepared immediately； and Dr。 Staines could have possession in
forty…eight hours； by paying the premium。
Rosa was delighted； and as soon as dinner was over； and the waiters
gone； she came and kissed Christopher。
He smiled； and said； 〃Well； you are pleased； that is the principal
thing。 I have saved two hundred pounds； and that is something。 It
will go towards furnishing。〃
〃La！ yes；〃 said Rosa； 〃I forgot。 We shall have to get furniture
now。 How nice！〃 It was a pleasure the man of forecast could have
willingly dispensed with； but he smiled at her； and they discussed
furniture； and Christopher； whose retentive memory had picked up a
little of everything； said there were wholesale upholsterers in the
City who sold cheaper than the West…end houses； and he thought the
best way was to measure the rooms in the Bijou； and go to the city
with a clear idea of what they wanted； ask the prices of various
necessary articles； and then make a list； and demand a discount of
fifteen per cent on the whole order； being so considerable； and
paid for in cash。
Rosa acquiesced； and told Christopher he was the cleverest man in
England。
About nine o'clock Mrs。 Cole came in to condole with her friend；
and heard the good news。 When Rosa told her how they thought of
furnishing； she said； 〃Oh no； you must not do that； you will pay
double for everything。 That is the mistake Johnnie and I made； and
after that a friend of mine took me to the auction…rooms； and I saw
everything soldoh； such bargains； half； and less than half； their
value。 She has furnished her house almost entirely from sales； and
she has the loveliest things in the worldsuch ducks of tables；
and jardinieres； and things； and beautiful rare chinaher house
swarms with itfor an old song。 A sale is the place。 And then so
amusing。〃
〃Yes； but；〃 said Christopher； 〃I should not like my wife to
encounter a public room。〃
〃Not alone； of course； but with me。 La！ Dr。 Staines； they are too
full of buying and selling to trouble their heads about us。〃
〃Oh； Christopher； do let me go with her。 Am I always to be a
child？〃
Thus appealed to before a stranger； Staines replied warmly； 〃No；
dearest； no； you cannot please me better than by beginning life in
earnest。 If you two ladies together can face an auction…room； go
by all means； only I must ask you not to buy china or ormulu； or
anything that will break or spoil； but only solid； good furniture。〃
〃Won't you come with us？〃
〃No； or you might feel yourself in leading…strings。 Remember the
Bijou is a small house； choose your furniture to fit it； and then
we shall save something by its being so small。〃
This was Wednesday。 There was a weekly sale in Oxford Street on
Fridays； and the ladies made the appointment accordingly。
Next day； after breakfast； Christopher was silent and thoughtful
awhile； and at last said to Rosa； 〃I'll show you I don't look on
you as a child； I'll consult you in a delicate matter。〃
Rosa's eyes sparkled。
〃It is about my Uncle Philip。 He has been very cruel； he has
wounded me deeply； he has wounded me through my wife。 I never
thought he would refuse to come to our marriage。〃
〃And did he？ You never showed me his letter。〃
〃You were not my wife then。 I kept an affront from you； but now；
you see； I keep nothing。〃
〃Dear Christie！〃
〃I am so happy； I have got over that stingalmost； and the memory
of many kind acts comes back to me； and I don't know what to do。
It seems ungrateful not to visit himit seems almost mean to
call。〃
〃I'll tell you； take me to see him directly。 He won't hate us
forever； if he sees us often。 We may as well begin at once。
Nobody