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at her on the spot； and muttered something about seven foolish
virgins。
He took the first opportunity； when they were alone； and told her
he was glad to find she was only dismal at home。
But Rosa had prepared for him。 〃One can be loud without being gay
at heart；〃 said she； with a lofty； languid air。 〃I have not
forgotten your last words to HIM。 We were to hide our broken
hearts from the world。 I try to obey you； dear papa； but； if I had
my way； I would never go into the world at all。 I have but one
desire nowto end my days in a convent。〃
〃Please begin them first。 A convent！ Why； you'd turn it out of
window。 You are no more fit to be a nun thana pauper。〃
Not having foreseen this facer； Rosa had nothing ready； so she
received it with a sad； submissive； helpless sigh； as who would
say； 〃Hit me； papa： I have no friend now。〃 So then he was sorry he
had been so clever； and； indeed； there is one provoking thing about
〃a woman's weakness〃it is invincible。
The next minute； what should come but a long letter from Dr。
Staines； detailing his endeavors to purchase a practice in London；
and his ill…success。 The letter spoke the language of love and
hope； but the facts were discouraging； and； indeed； a touching
sadness pierced through the veil of the brave words。
Rosa read it again and again； and cried over it before her father；
to encourage him in his heartless behavior。
About ten days after this； something occurred that altered her mood。
She became grave and thoughtful； but no longer lugubrious。 She
seemed desirous to atone to her father for having disturbed his
cheerfulness。 She smiled affectionately on him； and often sat on a
stool at his knee； and glided her hand into his。
He was not a little pleased； and said to himself； 〃She is coming
round to common…sense。〃
Now； on the contrary； she was farther from it than ever。
At last he got the clew。 One afternoon he met Mr。 Wyman coming out
of the villa。 Mr。 Wyman was the consulting surgeon of that part。
〃What！ anybody ill？〃 said Mr。 Lusignan。 〃One of the servants？〃
〃No； it is Miss Lusignan。〃
〃Why； what is the matter with her？〃
Wyman hesitated。 〃Oh； nothing very alarming。 Would you mind
asking her？〃
〃Why？〃
〃The fact is； she requested me not to tell you： made me promise。〃
〃And I insist upon your telling me。〃
〃And I think you are quite right； sir； as her father。 Well； she is
troubled with a little spitting of blood。〃
Mr。 Lusignan turned pale。 〃My child！ spitting of blood！ God
forbid！〃
〃Oh； do not alarm yourself。 It is nothing serious。〃
〃Don't tell me！〃 said the father。 〃It is always serious。 And she
kept this from me！〃
Masking his agitation for the time； he inquired how often it had
occurred； this grave symptom。
〃Three or four times this last month。 But I may as well tell you
at once： I have examined her carefully； and I do not think it is
from the lungs。〃
〃From the throat； then？〃
〃No； from the liver。 Everything points to that organ as the seat
of derangement： not that there is any lesion； only a tendency to
congestion。 I am treating her accordingly； and have no doubt of
the result。〃
〃Who is the ablest physician hereabouts？〃 asked Lusignan； abruptly。
〃Dr。 Snell； I think。〃
〃Give me his address。〃
〃I'll write to him； if you like； and appoint a consultation。〃 He
added； with vast but rather sudden alacrity； 〃It will be a great
satisfaction to my own mind。〃
〃Then send to him； if you please； and let him be here to…morrow
morning； if not； I shall take her to London for advice at once。〃
On this understanding they parted； and Lusignan went at once to his
daughter。 〃O my child！〃 said he； deeply distressed； 〃how could you
hide this from me？〃
〃Hide what； papa？〃 said the girl； looking the picture of
unconsciousness。
〃That you have been spitting blood。〃
〃Who told you that？〃 said she； sharply。
〃Wyman。 He is attending you。〃
Rosa colored with anger。 〃Chatterbox！ He promised me faithfully
not to。〃
〃But why； in Heaven's name？ What！ would you trust this terrible
thing to a stranger； and hide it from your poor father？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Rosa； quietly。
The old man would not scold her now； he only said； sadly； 〃I see
how it is： because I will not let you marry poverty； you think I do
not love you。〃 And he sighed。
〃O papa！ the idea！〃 said Rosa。 〃Of course； I know you love me。 It
was not that； you dear； darling； foolish papa。 There！ if you must
know； it was because I did not want you to be distressed。 I
thought I might get better with a little physic； and； if not； why；
then I thought； 'Papa is an old man； la！ I dare say I shall last
his time；' and so； why should I poison your latter days with
worrying about ME？〃
Mr。 Lusignan stared at her； and his lip quivered； but he thought
the trait hardly consistent with her superficial character。 He
could not help saying； half sadly； half bitterly； 〃Well； but of
course you have told Dr。 Staines。〃
Rosa opened her beautiful eyes； like two suns。 〃Of course I have
done nothing of the sort。 He has enough to trouble him； without
that。 Poor fellow！ there he is； worrying and striving to make his
fortune； and gain your esteem'they go together；' you know； you
told him so。〃 （Young cats will scratch when least expected。） 〃And
for me to go and tell him I am in danger！ Why； he would go wild。
He would think of nothing but me and my health。 He would never
make his fortune： and so then； even when I am gone； he will never
get a wife； because he has only got genius and goodness and three
thousand pounds。 No； papa； I have not told poor Christopher。 I
may tease those I love。 I have been teasing YOU this ever so long；
but frighten them； and make them miserable？ No！〃
And here； thinking of the anguish that was perhaps in store for
those she loved； she wanted to cry； it almost choked her not to。
But she fought it bravely down： she reserved her tears for lighter
occasions and less noble sentiments。
Her father held out his arms to her。 She ran her footstool to him；
and sat nestling to his heart。
〃Please forgive me my misconduct。 I have not been a dutiful
daughter ever since youbut now I will。 Kiss me； my own papa！
There！ Now we are as we always were。〃
Then she purred to him on every possible topic but the one that now
filled his parental heart； and bade him good…night at last with a
cheerful smile。
Wyman was exact； and ten minutes afterwards Dr。 Snell drove up in a
carriage and pair。 He was intercepted in the hall by Wyman； and；
after a few minutes' conversation； presented to Mr。 Lusignan。
The father gave vent to his paternal anxiety in a few simple but
touching words； and was proceeding to state the symptoms as he had
gathered them from his daughter； but Dr。 Snell interrupted him
politely； and said he had heard the principal symptoms from Mr。
Wyman。 Then； turning to the latter； he said； 〃We had better
proceed to examine the patient。〃
〃Certainly；〃 said Mr。 Lusignan。 〃She is in the drawing…room；〃 and
he led the way； and was about to enter the room； when Wyman
informed him it was against etiquette for him to be present at the
examination。