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Lady Cicely； with her eyes fixed on Staines； made a motion with her
hand that she was attending。
〃And they won't publish a word he writes。〃
〃Poor man！〃
〃Nice for me； is it not？〃
〃I begin to understand；〃 said Lady Cicely quietly； and soon after
retired with her invariable composure。
Meantime； Dr。 Staines； like a good husband； had thrown out
occasional hints to Mrs。 Lucas that he had a wife； beautiful；
accomplished； moped。 More than that； he went so far as to regret
to her that Mrs。 Staines； being in a neighborhood new to him； saw
so little society； the more so； as she was formed to shine； and had
not been used to seclusion。
All these hints fell dead on Mrs。 Lucas。 A handsome and skilful
doctor was welcome to her： his wifethat was quite another matter。
But one day Mrs。 Lucas saw Lady Cicely Treherne's carriage standing
at the door。 The style of the whole turnout impressed her。 She
wondered whose it was。
On another occasion she saw it drive up； and the lady get out。 She
recognized her； and the very next day this parvenue said adroitly；
〃Now； Dr。 Staines； really you can't be allowed to hide your wife in
this way。 （Staines stared。） Why not introduce her to me next
Wednesday？ It is my night。 I would give a dinner expressly for
her； but I don't like to do that while my husband is in Naples。〃
When Staines carried the invitation to his wife； she was delighted；
and kissed him with childish frankness。
But the very next moment she became thoughtful； uneasy； depressed。
〃Oh； dear； I've nothing to wear。〃
〃Oh； nonsense； Rosa。 Your wedding outfit。〃
〃The idea！ I can't go as a bride。 It's not a masquerade。〃
〃But you have other dresses。〃
〃All gone by； more or less； or not fit for such parties as SHE
gives。 A hundred carriages！〃
〃Bring them down； and let me see them。〃
〃Oh yes。〃 And the lady； who had nothing to wear； paraded a very
fair show of dresses。
Staines saw something to admire in all of them。 Mrs。 Staines found
more to object to in each。
At last he fell upon a silver…gray silk； of superlative quality。
〃That！ It is as old as the hills；〃 shrieked Rosa。
〃It looks just out of the shop。 Come； tell the truth； how often
have you worn it？〃
〃I wore it before I was married。〃
〃Ay； but how often？〃
〃Twice。 Three times； I believe。〃
〃I thought so。 It is good as new。〃
〃But I have had it so long by me。 I had it two years before I made
it up。〃
〃What does that matter？ Do you think the people can tell how long
a dress has been lurking in your wardrobe？ This is childish； Rosa。
There； with this dress as good as new； and your beauty； you will be
as much admired； and perhaps hated； as your heart can desire。〃
〃I am afraid not；〃 said Rosa naively。 〃Oh； how I wish I had known
a week ago。〃
〃I am very thankful you did not；〃 said Staines dryly。
At ten o'clock Mrs。 Staines was nearly dressed； at a quarter past
ten she demanded ten minutes； at half…past ten she sought a
reprieve； at a quarter to eleven； being assured that the street was
full of carriages； which had put down at Mrs。 Lucas's； she
consented to emerge； and in a minute they were at the house。
They were shown first into a cloak…room； and then into a tea…room；
and then mounted the stairs。 One servant took their names； and
bawled them to another four yards off； he to another about as near；
and so on； and they edged themselves into the room； not yet too
crowded to move in。
They had not taken many steps； on the chance of finding their
hostess； when a slight buzz arose； and seemed to follow them。
Rosa wondered what that was； but only for a moment； she observed a
tall； stout； aquiline woman fix an eye of bitter； diabolical；
malignant hatred on her； and as she advanced； ugly noses were
cocked disdainfully； and scraggy shoulders elevated at the risk of
sending the bones through the leather； and a titter or two shot
after her。 A woman's instinct gave her the key at once； the sexes
had complimented her at sight； each in their way； the men with
respectful admiration； the women； with their inflammable jealousy
and ready hatred in another of the quality they value most in
themselves。 But the country girl was too many for them： she would
neither see nor bear； but moved sedately on； and calmly crushed
them with her Southern beauty。 Their dry； powdered faces could not
live by the side of her glowing skin； with nature's delicate gloss
upon it； and the rich blood mantling below it。 The got…up
beauties； i。e。； the majority； seemed literally to fade and wither
as she passed。
Mrs。 Lucas got to her； suppressed a slight maternal pang； having
daughters to marry； and took her line in a moment； here was a decoy
duck。 Mrs。 Lucas was all graciousness； made acquaintance； and took
a little turn with her； introducing her to one or two persons；
among the rest； to the malignant woman； Mrs。 Barr。 Mrs。 Barr； on
this； ceased to look daggers and substituted icicles； but on the
hateful beauty moving away； dropped the icicles； and resumed the
poniards。
The rooms filled； the heat became oppressive； and the mixed odors
of flowers； scents； and perspiring humanity； sickening。 Some；
unable to bear it； trickled out of the room； and sat all down the
stairs。
Rosa began to feel faint。 Up came a tall； sprightly girl； whose
pertness was redeemed by a certain bonhomie； and said； 〃Mrs。
Staines； I believe？ I am to make myself agreeable to you。 That is
the order from headquarters。〃
〃Miss Lucas；〃 said Staines。
She jerked a little off…hand bow to him； and said； 〃Will you trust
her to me for five minutes？〃
〃Certainly。〃 But he did not much like it。
Miss Lucas carried her off； and told Dr。 Staines； over her
shoulder； now he could flirt to his heart's content。
〃Thank you；〃 said he dryly。 〃I'll await your return。〃
〃Oh； there are some much greater flirts here than I am；〃 said the
ready Miss Lucas； and whispering something in Mrs。 Staines's ear；
suddenly glided with her behind a curtain； pressed a sort of button
fixed to a looking…glass door。 The door opened； and behold they
were in a delicious place； for which I can hardly find a word；
since it was a boudoir and a conservatory in one： a large octagon；
the walls lined from floor to ceiling with looking…glasses of
moderate width； at intervals； and with creepers that covered the
intervening spaces of the wall； and were trained so as to break the
outline of the glasses without greatly clouding the reflection。
Ferns； in great variety； were grouped in a deep crescent； and in
the bight of this green bay were a small table and chairs。 As
there were no hot…house plants； the temperature was very cool；
compared with the reeking oven they had escaped； and a little
fountain bubbled； and fed a little meandering gutter that trickled
away among the ferns； it ran crystal clear over little bright
pebbles and shells。 It did not always run； you understand； but
Miss Lucas turned a secret tap； and started it。
〃Oh； how heavenly！〃 said Rosa； with a sigh of relief； 〃and how good
of you to bring me here！〃
〃Yes； by rights I ought to have waited till you fainted。 But there
is no making acquaintance among