按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
are mean； heartless things。 Give me men； they are loyal and true。〃
〃All of them？〃 inquired Christopher； a little satirically。 〃Read
the papers。〃
〃Every soul of them；〃 said Mrs。 Staines； passing loftily over the
proposed test。 〃That is； all the ones I care about； and that is my
own； own one。〃
Disagreeable creatures to have about onethese simpletons！
Mrs。 Staines took Christopher to shops to buy the remaining
requisites： and in three days more the house was furnished； two
female servants engaged； and the couple took their luggage over to
the Bijou。
Rosa was excited and happy at the novelty of possession and
authority； and that close sense of house proprietorship which
belongs to woman。 By dinner…time she could have told you how many
shelves there were in every cupboard； and knew the Bijou by heart
in a way that Christopher never knew it。 All this ended； as
running about and excitement generally does； with my lady being
exhausted； and lax with fatigue。 So then he made her lie down on a
little couch； while he went through his accounts。
When he had examined all the bills carefully he looked very grave；
and said； 〃Who would believe this？ We began with three thousand
pounds。 It was to last us several yearstill I got a good
practice。 Rosa； there is only fourteen hundred and forty pounds
left。〃
〃Oh； impossible！〃 said Rosa。 〃Oh； dear！ why did I ever enter a
saleroom？〃
〃No； no； my darling； you were bitten once or twice； but you made
some good bargains too。 Remember there was four hundred pounds set
apart for my life policy。〃
〃What a waste of money！〃
〃Your father did not think so。 Then the lease； the premium；
repairs of the drains that would have poisoned my Rosa； turning the
coach…house into a dispensary； painting； papering； and furnishing；
china； and linen； and everything to buy。 We must look at this
seriously。 Only fourteen hundred and forty pounds left。 A slow
profession。 No friends。 I have quarrelled with Uncle Philip： you
with Mrs。 Cole； and her husband would have launched me。〃
〃And it was to please her we settled here。 Oh； I could kill her：
nasty cat！〃
〃Never mind； it is not a case for despondency； but it is for
prudence。 All we have to do is to look the thing in the face； and
be very economical in everything。 I had better give you an
allowance for housekeeping； and I earnestly beg you to buy things
yourself whilst you are a poor man's wife； and pay ready money for
everything。 My mother was a great manager； and she always said；
'There is but one way： be your own market…woman； and pay on the
spot； never let the tradesmen get you on their books； or； what with
false weight； double charges； and the things your servants order
that never enter the house； you lose more than a hundred a year by
cheating。'〃
Rosa yielded a languid assent to this part of his discourse； and it
hardly seemed to enter her mind； but she raised no objection； and
in due course he made her a special allowance for housekeeping。
It soon transpired that medical advice was to be had； gratis； at
the Bijou； from eight till ten： and there was generally a good
attendance。 But a week passed； and not one patient came of the
class this couple must live by。 Christopher set this down to what
people call 〃the transition period：〃 his Kent patients had lost
him； his London patients not found him。 He wrote to all his
patients in the country； and many of his pupils at the university；
to let them know where he was settled： and then he waited。
Not a creature came。
Rosa bore this very well for a time； so long as the house was a
novelty； but when that excitement was worn out； she began to be
very dull； and used to come and entice him out to walk with her： he
would look wistfully at her； but object that； if he left the house；
he should be sure to lose a patient。
〃Oh； they won't come any more for our staying intiresome things！〃
said Rosa。
But Christopher would kiss her； and remain firm。 〃My love；〃 said
he； 〃you do not realize how hard a fight there is before us。 How
should you？ You are very young。 No； for your sake； I must not
throw a chance away。 Write to your female friends： that will while
away an hour or two。〃
〃What； after that Florence Cole？〃
〃Write to those who have not made such violent professions。〃
〃So I will； dear。 Especially to those that are married and come to
London。 Oh； and I'll write to that cold…blooded thing； Lady Cicely
Treherne。 Why do you shake your head？〃
〃Did I？ I was not aware。 Well； dear； if ladies of rank were to
come here； I fear they might make you discontented with your lot。〃
〃All the women on earth could not do that。 However； the chances
are she will not come near me： she left the school quite a big
girl； an immense girl； when I was only twelve。 She used to smile
at my capriccios； and once she kissed meactually。 She was an
awful Sawny； though； and so affected： I think I will write to her。〃
These letters brought just one lady； a Mrs。 Turner； who talked to
Rosa very glibly about herself； and amused Rosa twice： at the third
visit； Rosa tried to change the conversation。 Mrs。 Turner
instantly got up； and went away。 She could not bear the sound of
the human voice； unless it was talking about her and her affairs。
And now Staines began to feel downright uneasy。 Income was going
steadily out： not a shilling coming in。 The lame； the blind； and
the sick frequented his dispensary； and got his skill out of him
gratis； and sometimes a little physic； a little wine； and other
things that cost him money： but of the patients that pay； not one
came to his front door。
He walked round and round his little yard； like a hyena in its
cage； waiting； waiting； waiting： and oh！ how he envied the lot of
those who can hunt for work； instead of having to stay at home and
wait for others to come； whose will they cannot influence。 His
heart began to sicken with hope deferred； and dim forebodings of
the future； and he saw； with grief； that his wife was getting
duller and duller； and that her days dragged more heavily； far than
his own； for he could study。
At last his knocker began to show signs of life： his visitors were
physicians。 His lectures on 〃Diagnosis〃 were well known to them；
and one after another found him out。 They were polite； kind； even
friendly； but here it ended： these gentlemen； of course； did not
resign their patients to him； and the inferior class of
practitioners avoided his door like a pestilence。
Mrs。 Staines； who had always lived for amusement； could strike out
no fixed occupation； her time hung like lead； the house was small；
and in small houses the faults of servants run against the
mistress； and she can't help seeing them； and all the worse for
her。 It is easier to keep things clean in the country； and Rosa
had a high standard； which her two servants could never quite
attain。 This annoyed her； and she began to scold a little。 They
answered civilly； but in other respects remained imperfect beings；
they laid out every shilling they earned in finery； and； this； I am
ashamed to say； irritated Mrs。 Staines； who was wearing out her
wedding garments； and had n