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〃But he is very clever； and he is not an echo。 He won't care how
many doctors he contradicts when I am in danger。 Papa； it is your
child's one chance。〃
〃I'll try it；〃 said the old man； eagerly。 〃How confident you look！
your color has come back。 It is an inspiration。 Where is he？〃
〃I think by this time he must be at his lodgings in Gravesend。
Send to him to…morrow morning。〃
〃Not I！ I'll go to him to…night。 It is only a mile； and a fine
clear night。〃
〃My own； good； kind papa！ Ah！ well； come what may； I have lived
long enough to be loved。 Yes； dear papa； save me。 I am very young
to die； and he loves me so dearly。〃
The old man bustled away to put on something warmer for his night
walk； and Rosa leaned back； and the tears welled out of her eyes；
now he was gone。
Before she had recovered her composure； a letter was brought her；
and this was the letter from Christopher Staines； alluded to
already。
She took it from the servant with averted head； not wishing it to
be seen she had been crying； and she started at the handwriting； it
seemed such a coincidence that it should come just as she was
sending for him。
MY OWN BELOVED ROSA；I now write to tell you； with a heavy heart；
that all is vain。 I cannot make； nor purchase； a connection；
except as others do； by time and patience。 Being a bachelor is
quite against a young physician。 If I had a wife； and such a wife
as you； I should be sure to get on； you would increase my
connection very soon。 What； then； lies before us？ I see but two
thingsto wait till we are old； and our pockets are filled； but
our hearts chilled or soured； or else to marry at once； and climb
the hill together。 If you love me as I love you； you will be
saving till the battle is over； and I feel I could find energy and
fortitude for both。 Your father； who thinks so much of wealth； can
surely settle something on YOU； and I am not too poor to furnish a
house and start fair。 I am not quite obscuremy lectures have
given me a nameand to you； my own love； I hope I may say that I
know more than many of my elders； thanks to good schools； good
method； a genuine love of my noble profession； and a tendency to
study from my childhood。 Will you not risk something on my
ability？ If not； God help me； for I shall lose you； and what is
life； or fame； or wealth； or any mortal thing to me； without you？
I cannot accept your father's decision； YOU must decide my fate。
You see I have kept away from you until I can do so no more。 All
this time the world to me has seemed to want the sun； and my heart
pines and sickens for one sight of you。
Darling Rosa； pray let me look at your face once more。
When this reaches you I shall be at your gate。 Let me see you；
though but for a moment； and let me hear my fate from no lips but
yours。My own love； your heart…broken lover；
CHRISTOPHER STAINES。
This letter stunned her at first。 Her mind of late had been turned
away from love to such stern realities。 Now she began to be sorry
she had not told him。 〃Poor thing！〃 she said to herself； 〃he
little knows that now all is changed。 Papa； I sometimes think；
would deny me nothing now； it is I who would not marry himto be
buried by him in a month or two。 Poor Christopher！〃
The next moment she started up in dismay。 Why； her father would
miss him。 No； perhaps catch him waiting for her。 What would he
think？ What would Christopher think？that she had shown her papa
his letter。
She rang the bell hard。 The footman came。
〃Send Harriet to me this instant。 Oh； and ask papa to come to me。〃
Then she sat down and dashed off a line to Christopher。 This was
for Harriet to take out to him。 Anything better than for
Christopher to be caught doing what was wrong。
The footman came back first。 〃If you please； miss； master has gone
out。〃
〃Run after himthe road to Gravesend。〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃No。 It is no use。 Never mind。〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
Then Harriet came in。 〃Did you want me； miss？〃
〃Yes。 Nonever mind now。〃
She was afraid to do anything for fear of making matters worse。
She went to the window； and stood looking anxiously out； with her
hands working。 Presently she uttered a little scream and shrank
away to the sofa。 She sank down on it； half sitting； half lying；
hid her face in her hands； and waited。
Staines； with a lover's impatience； had been more than an hour at
the gate； or walking up and down close by it； his heart now burning
with hope； now freezing with fear； that she would decline a meeting
on these terms。
At last the postman came； and then he saw he was too soon； but now
in a few minutes Rosa would have his letter； and then he should
soon know whether she would come or not。 He looked up at the
drawing…room windows。 They were full of light。 She was there in
all probability。 Yet she did not come to them。 But why should
she； if she was coming out？
He walked up and down the road。 She did not come。 His heart began
to sicken with doubt。 His head drooped； and perhaps it was owing
to this that he almost ran against a gentleman who was coming the
other way。 The moon shone bright on both faces。
〃Dr。 Staines！〃 said Mr。 Lusignan surprised。 Christopher uttered an
ejaculation more eloquent than words。
They stared at each other。
〃You were coming to call on us？〃
〃Nno；〃 stammered Christopher。
Lusignan thought that odd； however； he said politely； 〃No matter；
it is fortunate。 Would you mind coming in？〃
〃No；〃 faltered Christopher； and stared at him ruefully； puzzled
more and more； but beginning to think； after all； it might be a
casual meeting。
They entered the gate； and in one moment he saw Rosa at the window；
and she saw him。
Then he altered his opinion again。 Rosa had sent her father out to
him。 But how was this？ The old man did not seem angry。
Christopher's heart gave a leap inside him； and he began to glow
with the wildest hopes。 For； what could this mean but relenting？
Mr。 Lusignan took him first into the study； and lighted two candles
himself。 He did not want the servants prying。
The lights showed Christopher a change in Mr。 Lusignan。 He looked
ten years older。
〃You are not well； sir；〃 said Christopher gently。
〃My health is well enough； but I am a broken…hearted man。 Dr。
Staines； forget all that passed here at your last visit。 All that
is over。 Thank you for loving my poor girl as you do； give me your
hand； God bless you。 Sir； I am sorry to say it is as a physician I
invite you now。 She is ill； sir； very； very ill。〃
〃Ill！ and not tell me！〃
〃She kept it from you； my poor friend； not to distress you； and she
tried to keep it from me； but how could she？ For two months she
has had some terrible complaintit is destroying her。 She is the
ghost of herself。 Oh； my poor child！ my child！〃
The old man sobbed aloud。 The young man stood trembling； and ashy
pale。 Still； the habits of his profession； and the experience of
dangers overcome； together with a certain sense of power； kept him
up； but； above all； love and duty said； 〃Be firm。〃 He asked for an
outline of the symptoms。
They alarmed him greatly。
〃Let us lose no more time；〃