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〃He ignored it entirely。 There！ I'll give you his very words。 He
said； 'In that case； Dr。 Staines； the simple question is； what does
your profession bring you in per annum？'〃
〃Oh！ There！ I always hated arithmetic； and now I abominate it。〃
〃Then I was obliged to confess I had scarcely received a hundred
pounds in fees this year； but I told him the reason； this is such a
small district； and all the ground occupied。 London； I said； was
my sphere。〃
〃And so it is；〃 said Rosa； eagerly； for this jumped with her own
little designs。 〃Genius is wasted in the country。 Besides；
whenever anybody worth curing is ill down here； they always send to
London for a doctor。〃
〃I told him so； dearest；〃 said the lover。 〃But he answered me
directly； then I must set up in London； and as soon as my books
showed an income to keep a wife； and servants； and children； and
insure my life for five thousand pounds〃
〃Oh； that is so like papa。 He is director of an insurance company；
so all the world must insure their lives。〃
〃No； dear； he was quite right there： professional incomes are most
precarious。 Death spares neither young nor old； neither warm
hearts nor cold。 I should be no true physician if I could not see
my own mortality。〃 He hung his head and pondered a moment； then
went on； sadly； 〃It all comes to thisuntil I have a professional
income of eight hundred a year at least； he will not hear of our
marrying； and the cruel thing is； he will not even consent to an
engagement。 But；〃 said the rejected； with a look of sad anxiety；
〃you will wait for me without that； dear Rosa？〃
She could give him that comfort； and she gave it him with loving
earnestness。 〃Of course I will； and it shall not be very long。
Whilst you are making your fortune； to please papa； I will keep
fretting； and pouting； and crying； till he sends for you。〃
〃Bless you； dearest！ Stop！not to make yourself ill！ not for all
the world。〃 The lover and the physician spoke in turn。
He came； all gratitude； to her side； and they sat； hand in hand；
comforting each other： indeed； parting was such sweet sorrow that
they sat； handed； and very close to one another； till Mr。 Lusignan；
who thought five minutes quite enough for rational beings to take
leave in； walked into the room and surprised them。 At sight of his
gray head and iron…gray eyebrows； Christopher Staines started up
and looked confused； he thought some apology necessary； so he
faltered out； 〃Forgive me； sir； it is a bitter parting to me； you
may be sure。〃
Rosa's bosom heaved at these simple words。 She flew to her father；
and cried； 〃Oh； papa！ papa！ you were never cruel before；〃 and hid
her burning face on his shoulder； and then burst out crying； partly
for Christopher； partly because she was now ashamed of herself for
having taken a young man's part so openly。
Mr。 Lusignan looked sadly discomposed at this outburst： she had
taken him by his weak point； he told her so。 〃Now； Rosa；〃 said he；
rather peevishly； 〃you know I hatenoise。〃
Rosa had actually forgotten that trait for a single moment； but；
being reminded of it； she reduced her sobs in the prettiest way；
not to offend a tender parent who could not bear noise。 Under this
homely term； you must know； he included all scenes； disturbances；
rumpuses； passions； and expected all men； women； and things in Kent
Villa to go smoothlyor go elsewhere。
〃Come； young people；〃 said he； 〃don't make a disturbance。 Where's
the grievance？ Have I said he shall never marry you？ Have I
forbidden him to correspond？ or even to call； say twice a year。
All I say is； no marriage； nor contract of marriage； until there is
an income。〃 Then he turned to Christopher。 〃Now if you can't make
an income without her； how could you make one with her； weighed
down by the load of expenses a wife entails？ I know her better
than you do； she is a good girl； but rather luxurious and self…
indulgent。 She is not cut out for a poor man's wife。 And pray
don't go and fancy that nobody loves my child but you。 Mine is not
so hot as yours； of course； but believe me； sir； it is less
selfish。 You would expose her to poverty and misery； but I say no；
it is my duty to protect her from all chance of them； and； in doing
it； I am as much your friend as hers； if you could but see it。
Come； Dr。 Staines； be a man； and see the world as it is。 I have
told you how to earn my daughter's hand and my esteem： you must
gain both； or neither。〃
Dr。 Staines was never quite deaf to reason： he now put his hand to
his brow and said； with a sort of wonder and pitiful dismay； 〃My
love for Rosa selfish！ Sir； your words are bitter and hard。〃
Then； after a struggle； and with rare and touching candor； 〃Ay； but
so are bark and steel； yet they are good medicines。〃 Then with a
great glow in his heart and tears in his eyes； 〃My darling shall
not be a poor man's wife； she who would adorn a coronet； ay； or a
crown。 Good…by； Rosa； for the present。〃 He darted to her； and
kissed her hand with all his soul。 〃Oh； the sacrifice of leaving
you；〃 he faltered； 〃the very world is dark to me without you。 Ah；
well； I must earn the right to come again。〃 He summoned all his
manhood； and marched to the door。 There he seemed to turn calmer
all of a sudden； and said firmly； yet humbly； 〃I'll try and show
you； sir； what love can do。〃
〃And I'll show you what love can suffer；〃 said Rosa； folding her
beautiful arms superbly。
It was not in her to have shot such a bolt； except in imitation；
yet how promptly the mimic thunder came； and how grand the beauty
looked； with her dark brows； and flashing eyes； and folded arms！
much grander and more inspired than poor Staines； who had only
furnished the idea。
But between these two figures swelling with emotion； the
representative of common sense； Lusignan pere； stood cool and
impassive； he shrugged his shoulders； and looked on both lovers as
a couple of ranting novices he was saving from each other and
almshouses。
For all that； when the lover had torn himself away； papa's
composure was suddenly disturbed by a misgiving。 He stepped
hastily to the stairhead； and gave it vent。 〃Dr。 Staines；〃 said
he； in a loud whisper （Staines was half way down the stairs： he
stopped）。 〃I trust to you as a gentleman； not to mention this； it
will never transpire here。 Whatever we dono noise！〃
CHAPTER II。
Rosa Lusignan set herself pining as she had promised； and she did
it discreetly for so young a person。 She was never peevish； but
always sad and listless。 By this means she did not anger her
parent； but only made him feel she was unhappy； and the house she
had hitherto brightened exceeding dismal。
By degrees this noiseless melancholy undermined the old gentleman；
and he well…nigh tottered。
But one day； calling suddenly on a neighbor with six daughters； he
heard peals of laughter； and found Rosa taking her full share of
the senseless mirth。 She pulled up short at sight of him； and
colored high； but it was too late； for he launched a knowing look
at her on the spot； and muttered something about seven foolish
virgins。
He took the first opportunity； when they were alone； and tol