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girl put to bed。 〃You will not wake her at any particular hour；
nurse。 Let her sleep。 Have a little strong beef…tea ready； and
give it her at any hour； night or day； she asks for it。 But do not
force it on her； or you will do her more harm than good。 She had
better sleep before she eats。〃
Mrs。 Lucas begged him to come every morning； and； as he was going；
she shook hands with him； and the soft palm deposited a hard
substance wrapped in paper。 He took it with professional gravity
and seeming unconsciousness； but； once outside the house； went home
on wings。 He ran up to the drawing…room； and found his wife
seated； and playing at reading。 He threw himself on his knees； and
the fee into her lap； and； while she unfolded the paper with an
ejaculation of pleasure； he said； 〃Darling； the first real patient
the first real fee。 It is yours to buy the new bonnet。〃
〃Oh； I'm so glad！〃 said she； with her eyes glistening。 〃But I'm
afraid one can't get a bonnet fit to wearfor a guinea。〃
Dr。 Staines visited his little patient every day； and received his
guinea。 Mrs。 Lucas also called him in for her own little ailments；
and they were the best possible kind of ailments： for； being
imaginary； there was no limit to them。
Then did Mrs。 Staines turn jealous of her husband。 〃They never ask
me；〃 said she； 〃and I am moped to death。〃
〃It is hard；〃 said Christopher； sadly。 〃But have a little
patience。 Society will come to you long before practice comes to
me。〃
About two o'clock one afternoon a carriage and pair drove up； and a
gorgeous footman delivered a card〃Lady Cicely Treherne。〃
Of course Mrs。 Staines was at home； and only withheld by propriety
from bounding into the passage to meet her school…fellow。 However；
she composed herself in the drawing…room； and presently the door
was opened； and a very tall young woman； richly but not gayly
dressed； drifted into the room； and stood there a statue of
composure。
Rosa had risen to fly to her； but the reverence a girl of eighteen
strikes into a child of twelve hung about her still； and she came
timidly forward； blushing and sparkling； a curious contrast in
color and mind to her visitor； for Lady Cicely was Languor in
personher hair whitey…brown； her face a fine oval； but almost
colorless； her eyes a pale gray； her neck and hands incomparably
white and beautifula lymphatic young lady； a live antidote to
emotion。 However； Rosa's beauty； timidity； and undisguised
affectionateness were something so different from what she was used
to in the world of fashion； that she actually smiled； and held out
both her hands a little way。 Rosa seized them； and pressed them；
they left her； and remained passive and limp。
〃O Lady Cicely；〃 said Rosa； 〃how kind of you to come。〃
〃How kind of you to send to me；〃 was the polite； but perfectly cool
reply。 〃But how you are gwown； andmay I say impwoved？You la
petite Lusignan！ It is incwedible；〃 lisped her ladyship； very
calmly。
〃I was only a child；〃 said Rosa。 〃You were always so beautiful and
tall； and kind to a little monkey like me。 Oh； pray sit down； Lady
Cicely； and talk of old times。〃
She drew her gently to the sofa； and they sat down hand in hand；
but Lady Cicely's high…bred reserve made her a very poor gossip
about anything that touched herself and her family； so Rosa； though
no egotist； was drawn into talking about herself more than she
would have done had she deliberately planned the conversation。 But
here was an old school…fellow； and a singularly polite listener；
and so out came her love； her genuine happiness； her particular
griefs； and especially the crowning grievance； no society； moped to
death； etc。
Lady Cicely could hardly understand the sentiment in a woman who so
evidently loved her husband。 〃Society！〃 said she； after due
reflection； 〃why； it is a boa。〃 （And here I may as well explain
that Lady Cicely spoke certain words falsely； and others
affectedly； and as for the letter r； she could say it if she made a
hearty effort； but was generally too lazy to throw her leg over
it。） 〃Society！ I'm dwenched to death with it。 If I could only
catch fiah like other women； and love somebody； I would much rather
have a tete…a…tete with him than go teawing about all day and all
night； from one unintwisting cwowd to another。 To be sure；〃 said
she； puzzling the matter out； 〃you are a beauty； and would be more
looked at。〃
〃The idea！ andoh no！ no！ it is not that。 But even in the country
we had always some society。〃
〃Well； dyar； believe me； with your appeawance； you can have as much
society as you please； but it will boa you to death； as it does me；
and then you will long to be left quiet with a sensible man who
loves you。〃
Said Rosa； 〃When shall I have another tete…a…tete with YOU； I
wonder？ Oh； it has been such a comfort to me。 Bless you for
coming。 ThereI wrote to Cecilia； and Emily； and Mrs。 Bosanquet
that is now； and all my sworn friends； and to think of you being
the one to comeyou that never kissed me but once； and an earl's
daughter into the bargain。〃
Ha！ ha！ ha！〃Lady Cicely actually laughed for once in a way； and
did not feel the effort。 〃As for kissing；〃 said she； 〃if I fall
shawt； fawgive me。 I was nevaa vewy demonstwative。〃
〃No； and I have had a lesson。 That Florence ColeFlorence Whiting
that was； you knowwas always kissing me； and she has turned out a
traitor。 I'll tell you all about her。〃 And she did。
Lady Cicely thought Mrs。 Staines a little too unreserved in her
conversation； but was so charmed with her sweetness and freshness
that she kept up the acquaintance； and called on her twice a week
during the season。 At first she wondered that her visits were not
returned； but Rosa let out that she was ashamed to call on foot in
Grosvenor Square。
Lady Cicely shrugged her beautiful shoulders a little at that； but
she continued to do the visiting； and to enjoy the simple； innocent
rapture with which she was received。
This lady's pronunciation of many words was false or affected。 She
said 〃good murning〃 for 〃good morning；〃 and turned other vowels to
diphthongs； and played two or three pranks with her 〃r's。〃 But we
cannot be all imperfection： with her pronunciation her folly came
to a full stop。 I really believe she lisped less nonsense and bad
taste in a year than some of us articulate in a day。 To be sure；
folly is generally uttered in a hurry； and she was too deplorably
lazy to speak fast on any occasion whatever。
One day Mrs。 Staines took her up…stairs； and showed her from the
back window her husband pacing the yard； waiting for patients。
Lady Cicely folded her arms； and contemplated him at first with a
sort of zoological curiosity。 Gentleman pacing back yard； like
hyena； she had never seen before。
At last she opened her mouth in a whisper； 〃What is he doing？〃
〃Waiting for patients。〃
〃Oh！ Waitingforpatients？〃
〃For patients that never come； and never will come。〃
〃Cuwious！ How little I know of life。〃
〃It is that all day； dear； or else writing。〃
Lady Cicely； with her eyes fixed on Staines； made a motion with her
hand that she was attending。
〃And they won't publish a