theylefther；andremainedpassiveandlimp。
\"OLadyCicely，\"saidRosa，\"howkindofyoutocome。\"
\"Howkindofyoutosendtome，\"wasthepolite，butperfectlycoolreply。\"Buthowyouaregwown，and——mayIsayimpwoved?——YoulapetiteLusignan!Itisincwedible，\"lispedherladyship，verycalmly。
\"Iwasonlyachild，\"saidRosa。\"Youwerealwayssobeautifulandtall，andkindtoalittlemonkeylikeme。Oh，praysitdown，LadyCicely，andtalkofoldtimes。\"
Shedrewhergentlytothesofa，andtheysatdownhandinhand；
butLadyCicely\'shigh-bredreservemadeheraverypoorgossipaboutanythingthattouchedherselfandherfamily；soRosa，thoughnoegotist，wasdrawnintotalkingaboutherselfmorethanshewouldhavedonehadshedeliberatelyplannedtheconversation。Butherewasanoldschool-fellow，andasingularlypolitelistener，andsooutcameherlove，hergenuinehappiness，herparticulargriefs，andespeciallythecrowninggrievance，nosociety，mopedtodeath，etc。
LadyCicelycouldhardlyunderstandthesentimentinawomanwhosoevidentlylovedherhusband。\"Society!\"saidshe，afterduereflection，\"why，itisaboa。\"(AndhereImayaswellexplainthatLadyCicelyspokecertainwordsfalsely，andothersaffectedly；andasfortheletterr，shecouldsayitifshemadeaheartyeffort，butwasgenerallytoolazytothrowherlegoverit。)\"Society!I\'mdwenchedtodeathwithit。IfIcouldonlycatchfiahlikeotherwomen，andlovesomebody，Iwouldmuchratherhaveatete-a-tetewithhimthangoteawingaboutalldayandallnight，fromoneunintwistingcwowdtoanother。Tobesure，\"saidshe，puzzlingthematterout，\"youareabeauty，andwouldbemorelookedat。\"
\"Theidea!and——ohno!no!itisnotthat。Buteveninthecountrywehadalwayssomesociety。\"
\"Well，dyar，believeme，withyourappeawance，youcanhaveasmuchsocietyasyouplease；butitwillboayoutodeath，asitdoesme，andthenyouwilllongtobeleftquietwithasensiblemanwholovesyou。\"
SaidRosa，\"WhenshallIhaveanothertete-a-tetewithYOU，I
wonder?Oh，ithasbeensuchacomforttome。Blessyouforcoming。There——IwrotetoCecilia，andEmily，andMrs。Bosanquetthatisnow，andallmyswornfriends，andtothinkofyoubeingtheonetocome——youthatneverkissedmebutonce，andanearl\'sdaughterintothebargain。\"
Ha!ha!ha!\"——LadyCicelyactuallylaughedforonceinaway，anddidnotfeeltheeffort。\"Asforkissing，\"saidshe，\"ifIfallshawt，fawgiveme。Iwasnevaavewydemonstwative。\"
\"No；andIhavehadalesson。ThatFlorenceCole——FlorenceWhitingthatwas，youknow——wasalwayskissingme，andshehasturnedoutatraitor。I\'lltellyouallabouther。\"Andshedid。
LadyCicelythoughtMrs。Stainesalittletoounreservedinherconversation；butwassocharmedwithhersweetnessandfreshnessthatshekeptuptheacquaintance，andcalledonhertwiceaweekduringtheseason。Atfirstshewonderedthathervisitswerenotreturned；butRosaletoutthatshewasashamedtocallonfootinGrosvenorSquare。
LadyCicelyshruggedherbeautifulshouldersalittleatthat；butshecontinuedtodothevisiting，andtoenjoythesimple，innocentrapturewithwhichshewasreceived。
Thislady\'spronunciationofmanywordswasfalseoraffected。Shesaid\"goodmurning\"for\"goodmorning，\"andturnedothervowelstodiphthongs，andplayedtwoorthreeprankswithher\"r\'s。\"Butwecannotbeallimperfection:withherpronunciationherfollycametoafullstop。Ireallybelieveshelispedlessnonsenseandbadtasteinayearthansomeofusarticulateinaday。Tobesure，follyisgenerallyutteredinahurry，andshewastoodeplorablylazytospeakfastonanyoccasionwhatever。
OnedayMrs。Stainestookherup-stairs，andshowedherfromthebackwindowherhusbandpacingtheyard，waitingforpatients。
LadyCicelyfoldedherarms，andcontemplatedhimatfirstwithasortofzoologicalcuriosity。Gentlemanpacingbackyard，likehyena，shehadneverseenbefore。
Atlastsheopenedhermouthinawhisper，\"Whatishedoing?\"
\"Waitingforpatients。\"
\"Oh!Waiting——for——patients?\"
\"Forpatientsthatnevercome，andneverwillcome。\"
\"Cuwious!HowlittleIknowoflife。\"
\"Itisthatallday，dear，orelsewriting。\"
LadyCicely，withhereyesfixedonStaines，madeamotionwithherhandthatshewasattending。
\"Andtheywon\'tpublishawordhewrites。\"
\"Poorman!\"
\"Niceforme；isitnot?\"
\"Ibegintounderstand，\"saidLadyCicelyquietly；andsoonafterretiredwithherinvariablecomposure。
Meantime，Dr。Staines，likeagoodhusband，hadthrownoutoccasionalhintstoMrs。Lucasthathehadawife，beautiful，accomplished，moped。Morethanthat，hewentsofarastoregrettoherthatMrs。Staines，beinginaneighborhoodnewtohim，sawsolittlesociety；themoreso，asshewasformedtoshine，andhadnotbeenusedtoseclusion。
AllthesehintsfelldeadonMrs。Lucas。Ahandsomeandskilfuldoctorwaswelcometoher:hiswife——thatwasquiteanothermatter。
ButonedayMrs。LucassawLadyCicelyTreherne\'scarriagestandingatthedoor。Thestyleofthewholeturnoutimpressedher。Shewonderedwhoseitwas。
Onanotheroccasionshesawitdriveup，andtheladygetout。Sherecognizedher；andtheverynextdaythisparvenuesaidadroitly，\"Now，Dr。Staines，reallyyoucan\'tbeallowedtohideyourwifeinthisway。(Stainesstared。)WhynotintroducehertomenextWednesday?Itismynight。Iwouldgiveadinnerexpresslyforher；butIdon\'tliketodothatwhilemyhusbandisinNaples。\"
WhenStainescarriedtheinvitationtohiswife，shewasdelighted，andkissedhimwithchildishfrankness。
Buttheverynextmomentshebecamethoughtful，uneasy，depressed。
\"Oh，dear；I\'venothingtowear。\"
\"Oh，nonsense，Rosa。Yourweddingoutfit。\"
\"Theidea!Ican\'tgoasabride。It\'snotamasquerade。\"
\"Butyouhaveotherdresses。\"
\"Allgoneby，moreorless；ornotfitforsuchpartiesasSHE
gives。Ahundredcarriages!\"
\"Bringthemdown，andletmeseethem。\"
\"Ohyes。\"Andthelady，whohadnothingtowear，paradedaveryfairshowofdresses。
Stainessawsomethingtoadmireinallofthem。Mrs。Stainesfoundmoretoobjecttoineach。
Atlasthefelluponasilver-graysilk，ofsuperlativequality。
\"That!Itisasoldasthehills，\"shriekedRosa。
\"Itlooksjustoutoftheshop。Come，tellthetruth；howoftenhaveyouwornit?\"
\"IworeitbeforeIwasmarried。\"
\"Ay，buthowoften?\"
\"Twice。Threetimes，Ibelieve。\"
\"Ithoughtso。Itisgoodasnew。\"
\"ButIhavehaditsolongbyme。IhadittwoyearsbeforeImadeitup。\"
\"Whatdoesthatmatter?Doyouthinkthepeoplecantellhowlongadresshasbeenlurkinginyourwardrobe?Thisischildish，Rosa。
There，withthisdressasgoodasnew，andyourbeauty，youwillbeasmuchadmired，andperhapshated，asyourheartcandesire。\"
\"Iamafraidnot，\"saidRosanaively。\"Oh，howIwishIhadknownaweekago。\"
\"Iamverythankfulyoudidnot，\"saidStainesdryly。
Atteno\'clockMrs。Staineswasnearlydressed；ataquarterpasttenshedemandedtenminutes；athalf-pasttenshesoughtareprieve；ataquartertoeleven，beingassuredthatthestreetwasfullofcarriages，whichhadputdownatMrs。Lucas\'s，sheconsentedtoemerge；andinaminutetheywereatthehouse。
Theywereshownfirstintoacloak-room，andthenintoatea-room，andthenmountedthestairs。Oneservanttooktheirnames，andbawledthemtoanotherfouryardsoff，hetoanotheraboutasnear，andsoon；andtheyedgedthemselvesintotheroom，notyettoocrowdedtomovein。
Theyhadnottakenmanysteps，onthechanceoffindingtheirhostess，whenaslightbuzzarose，andseemedtofollowthem。
Rosawonderedwhatthatwas；butonlyforamoment；sheobservedatall，stout，aquilinewomanfixaneyeofbitter，diabolical，malignanthatredonher；andassheadvanced，uglynoseswerecockeddisdainfully，andscraggyshoulderselevatedattheriskofsendingthebonesthroughtheleather，andatitterortwoshotafterher。Awoman\'sinstinctgaveherthekeyatonce；thesexeshadcomplimentedheratsight；eachintheirway；themenwithrespectfuladmiration；thewomen，withtheirinflammablejealousyandreadyhatredinanotherofthequalitytheyvaluemostinthemselves。Butthecountrygirlwastoomanyforthem:shewouldneitherseenorbear，butmovedsedatelyon，andcalmlycrushedthemwithherSouthernbeauty。Theirdry，powderedfacescouldnotlivebythesideofherglowingskin，withnature\'sdelicateglossuponit，andtherichbloodmantlingbelowit。Thegot-upbeauties，i。e。，themajority，seemedliterallytofadeandwitherasshepassed。
Mrs。Lucasgottoher，suppressedaslightmaternalpang，havingdaughterstomarry，andtookherlineinamoment；herewasadecoyduck。Mrs。Lucaswasallgraciousness，madeacquaintance，andtookalittleturnwithher，introducinghertooneortwopersons；
amongtherest，tothemalignantwoman，Mrs。Barr。Mrs。Barr，onthis，ceasedtolookdaggersandsubstitutedicicles；butonthehatefulbeautymovingaway，droppedtheicicles，andresumedtheponiards。
Theroomsfilled；theheatbecameoppressive，andthemixedodorsofflowers，scents，andperspiringhumanity，sickening。Some，unabletobearit，trickledoutoftheroom，andsatalldownthestairs。
Rosabegantofeelfaint。Upcameatall，sprightlygirl，whosepertnesswasredeemedbyacertainbonhomie，andsaid，\"Mrs。
Staines，Ibelieve?Iamtomakemyselfagreeabletoyou。Thatistheorderfromheadquarters。\"
\"MissLucas，\"saidStaines。
Shejerkedalittleoff-handbowtohim，andsaid，\"Willyoutrusthertomeforfiveminutes?\"
\"Certainly。\"Buthedidnotmuchlikeit。
MissLucascarriedheroff，andtoldDr。Staines，overhershoulder，nowhecouldflirttohisheart\'scontent。
\"Thankyou，\"saidhedryly。\"I\'llawaityourreturn。\"
\"Oh，therearesomemuchgreaterflirtsherethanIam，\"saidthereadyMissLucas；andwhisperingsomethinginMrs。Staines\'sear，suddenlyglidedwithherbehindacurtain，pressedasortofbuttonfixedtoalooking-glassdoor。Thedooropened，andbeholdtheywereinadeliciousplace，forwhichIcanhardlyfindaword，sinceitwasaboudoirandaconservatoryinone:alargeoctagon，thewallslinedfromfloortoceilingwithlooking-glassesofmoderatewidth，atintervals，andwithcreepersthatcoveredtheinterveningspacesofthewall，andweretrainedsoastobreaktheoutlineoftheglasseswithoutgreatlycloudingthereflection。
Ferns，ingreatvariety，weregroupedinadeepcrescent，andinthebightofthisgreenbaywereasmalltableandchairs。Astherewerenohot-houseplants，thetemperaturewasverycool，comparedwiththereekingoventheyhadescaped；andalittlefountainbubbled，andfedalittlemeanderinggutterthattrickledawayamongtheferns；itrancrystalclearoverlittlebrightpebblesandshells。Itdidnotalwaysrun，youunderstand；butMissLucasturnedasecrettap，andstartedit。
\"Oh，howheavenly!\"saidRosa，withasighofrelief；\"andhowgoodofyoutobringmehere!\"
\"Yes；byrightsIoughttohavewaitedtillyoufainted。Butthereisnomakingacquaintanceamongallthosepeople。Mammawillasksuchcrowds；oneislikeaflyinaglue-pot。\"
MissLucashadgoodnature，smartness，andanimalspirits；hencearoseavivacityandfluencythatwereoftenamusing，andpassedforveryclever。Reserveshehadnone；wouldtalkaboutstrangers，orfriends，herself，hermother，herGod，andthelastbuffoon-
singer，inabreath。AtahintfromRosa，shetoldherwhotheladyinthepinkdresswas，andtheladyinthevioletvelvet，andsoon；foreachladywasdefinedbyherdress，and，moreorless，quizzedbythisshow-woman，notexactlyoutofmalice，butbecauseitissmarterandmorenaturaltodecrythantopraise，andalittlemedisanceisthespicetogossip，belongstoit，asmintsaucetolamb。Sotheychattedaway，andwerepleasedwitheachother，andmadefriends，andthere，incoolgrot，quiteforgotthesufferingsoftheirfellow-creaturesintheadjacentTurkishbath，ycleptsociety。ItwasRosawhofirstrecollectedherself。\"WillnotMrs。Lucasbeangrywithme，ifIkeepyoualltomyself?\"
\"Ohno；butI\'mafraidwemustgointothehot-houseagain。Ilikethegreenhousebest，withsuchanicecompanion。\"
Theyslippednoiselesslyintothethrongagain，andwriggledabout，MissLucaspresentinghernewfriendtoseveralladiesandgentlemen。
PresentlyStainesfoundthem，andthenMissLucaswriggledaway；
andinduecoursetheroomwasthinnedbymanyguestsdrivingoffhome，ortoballs，andotherreceptions，andDr。StainesandMrs。
StaineswenthometotheBijou。Herethephysicianprescribedbed；
buttheladywouldnothearofsuchathinguntilshehadtalkeditallover。Sotheycomparednotes，andRosatoldhimhowwellshehadgotonwithMissLucas，andmadeafriendship。\"Butforthat，\"
saidshe，\"IshouldbesorryIwentamongthosepeople，suchadowdy。\"
\"Dowdy!\"saidStaines。\"Why，youstormedthetown；youwerethegreatsuccessofthenight，and，forallIknow，oftheseason。\"
Thewretchdeliveredthiswithunbecomingindifference。
\"Itistoobadtomockme，Christie。Wherewereyoureyes?\"
\"Tothebestofmyrecollection，theywereoneoneachsideofmynose。\"
\"Yes，butsomepeopleareeyesandnoeyes。\"
\"Iscorntheimputation；tryme。\"
\"Verywell。Thendidyouseethatladyinsky-bluesilk，embroideredwithflowers，andflouncedwithwhitevelvet，andthecorsagepointlace；andoh，suchemeralds?\"
\"Idid；atall，skinnywoman，witheyesresemblingherjewelsincolor，thoughnotinbrightness。\"
\"Nevermindhereyes；itisherdressIamspeakingof。Exquisite；
andwhatacoiffure!Well，didyouseeHERintheblackvelvet，trimmedsodeepwithChantillylace，waveonwave，andherhead-
dressofcrimsonflowers，andsuchariviereofdiamonds；oh，dear!
oh，dear!\"
\"Idid，love。Theroomwasanoven，butherrubicundfaceandsuffocatingcostumemadeitseemafurnace。\"
\"Stuff!Well，didyouseetheladyinthecorn-coloredsilk，andpoppiesinherhair?\"
\"OfcourseIdid。Ceresinperson。Shemademefeelhot，too；butIcooledmyselfabitatherpale，sicklyface。\"
\"Nevermindtheirfaces；thatisnotthepoint。\"
\"Oh，excuseme；itisalwaysapointwithusbenightedmales，alleyesandnoeyes。\"
\"Well，then，theladyinwhite，withcherry-velvetbands，andawhitetunicloopedwithcrimson，andheaddressofwhiteillusion，alavierge，Ithinktheycallit。\"
\"Itwasveryrefreshing；andadaptedtothatawfulatmosphere。ItwasthenearestapproachtonudityIeversaw，evenamongstfashionablepeople。\"
\"Itwaslovely；andthenthatsuperbfigureinwhiteillusionandgold，withallthosenarrowflouncesoverherslipofwhitesilkglacee，andawreathofwhiteflowers，withgoldwheatearsamongstthem，inherhair；andoh!oh!oh!herpearls，oriental，andasbigasalmonds!\"
\"Andoh!oh!oh!hernose!reddish，andaslongasawoodcock\'s。\"
\"Noses!noses!stupid!Thatisnotwhatstrikesyoufirstinawomandressedlikeanangel。\"
\"Well，ifyouweretorunupagainstthatone，asInearlydid，hernoseWOULDbethethingthatwouldstrikeyoufirst。Nose!itwasarostrum!thespear-headofGoliah。\"
\"Now，don\'t，Christopher。Thisisnolaughingmatter。Doyoumeanyouwerenotashamedofyourwife?Iwas。\"
\"No，Iwasnot；youhadbutonerival；averyyounglady，wisebeforeherage；ablonde，withvioleteyes。Shewasdressedinlightmauve-coloredsilk，withoutasingleflounce，oranyothertomfoolerytofritterawaythesheenandcolorofanexquisitematerial；hersunnyhairwasanotherwaveofcolor，wreathedwithathinlineofwhitejessamineflowerscloselywoven，thatscentedtheair。Thisgirlwasthemoonofthatassembly，andyouwerethesun。\"
\"Ineverevensawher。\"
\"Eyesandnoeyes。Shesawyou，andsaid，\'Oh，whatabeautifulcreature!\'forIheardher。Asfortheoldstagers，whomyouadmireso，theirfaceswereallcloggedwithpowder，theporesstoppedup，thetruetextureoftheskinabolished。Theylookeddownrightnasty，wheneveryouorthatyounggirlpassedbythem。
Thenitwasyousawtowhatafrightfulextentwomenaregotupinourday，evenyoungwomen，andrespectablewomen。No，Rosa，dresscandolittleforyou；youhavebeauty——realbeauty。\"
\"Beauty!Thatpassesunnoticed，unlessoneiswelldressed。\"
\"ThenwhatanobscurepairtheApolloBelvidereandtheVenusdeMedicismustbe。\"
\"Oh!theyaredressed——inmarble。\"
ChristopherStainesstaredfirst，thensmiled。
\"Welldone，\"saidhe，admiringly。\"ThatISaknockdownblow。Sonowyouhavesilencedyourhusband，goyoutobeddirectly。I
can\'taffordyoudiamonds；soIwilltakecareofthatlittleinsignificanttrifle，yourbeauty。\"
Mrs。StainesandMrs。Lucasexchangedcalls，andsoonMrs。Stainescouldnolongercomplainshewasoutoftheworld。Mrs。Lucasinvitedhertoeveryparty，becauseherbeautywasaninstrumentofattractionsheknewhowtouse；andMissLucastookadownrightfancytoher；droveherinthepark，andonSundaystotheZoologicalGardens，justbeginningtobefashionable。
TheLucasesrentedaboxattheopera，andifitwasnotletatthelibrarybysixo\'clock，andifotherengagementspermitted，wordwassentroundtoMrs。Staines，asamatterofcourse，andshewastakentotheopera。ShebeganalmosttoliveattheLucases，andtobeoftenerfatiguedthanmoped。
Theusualorderofthingswasinverted；themaidenladyeducatedthematron；forMissLucasknewallabouteverybodyinthePark，honorableordishonorable；allthescandals，andalltheflirtations；andwhateversheknew，sherelatedpoint-blank。Beingasinquisitiveasvoluble，shesoonlearnedhowMrs。Stainesandherhusbandweresituated。Shetookuponhertoadviseherinmanythings，andespeciallyimpresseduponherthatDr。Stainesmustkeepacarriage，ifhewantedtogetoninmedicine。ThepieceofadviceaccordedsowellwithRosa\'swishes，thatsheurgeditonherhusbandagainandagain。
Heobjectedthatnomoneywascomingin，andthereforeitwouldbeinsanetoaddtotheirexpenses。Rosapersisted，andatlastworriedStaineswithherimportunity。Hebegantogiverathershortanswers。ThenshequotedMissLucasagainsthim。Hetreatedtheauthoritywithmarkedcontempt；andthenRosafiredupalittle。ThenStainesheldhispeace；butdidnotbuyacarriagetovisithisnopatients。
SoatlastRosacomplainedtoLadyCicelyTreherne，andmadeherthejudgebetweenherhusbandandherself。LadyCicelydrawledoutapromptbutpoliterefusaltoplaythatpart。Allthatcouldbeelicitedfromher，andthatwithdifficulty，was，\"Whyquallwithyourhusbandaboutacawwige；heisyourbestfwiend。\"
\"Ah，thatheis，\"saidRosa；\"butMissLucasisagoodfriend，andsheknowstheworld。Wedon\'t；neitherChristophernorI。\"
Soshecontinuedtonagatherhusbandaboutit，andtosaythathewasthrowinghisonlychanceaway。
Galledashewasbyneglect，thiswasirritating，andatlasthecouldnothelptellinghershewasunreasonable。\"Youliveagaylife，andIasadone。Iconsenttothis，andletyougoaboutwiththeseLucases，becauseyouweresodull；butyoushouldnotconsulttheminourprivateaffairs。Theirinterferenceisindelicateandimproper。IwillnotsetupacarriagetillIhavepatientstovisit。Iamsickofseeingourcapitaldwindle，andnoincomecreated。IwillneversetupacarriagetillIhavetakenahundred-guineafee。\"
\"Oh!Thenweshallgosplashingthroughthemudallourdays。\"
\"Orrideinacab，\"saidChristopher，withaquietdoggednessthatleftnohopeofhisyielding。
OneafternoonMissLucascalledforMrs。StainestodriveinthePark，butdidnotcomeup-stairs；itwasanengagement，andsheknewMrs。Staineswouldbeready，ornearly。Mrs。Staines，nottokeepherwaiting，camedownratherhastily，andintheverypassagewhippedoutofherpocketalittleglass，andalittlepowderpuff，andpuffedherfacealloverinatrice。Shewasthengoingout；
butherhusbandcalledherintothestudy。\"Rosa，mydear，\"saidhe，\"youweregoingoutwithadirtyface。\"
\"Oh!\"criedshe，\"givemeaglass。\"
\"Thereisnoneedofthat。Allyouwantisabasinandsomenicerain-water。Ikeepalittlereservoirofit。\"
Hethenhandedherthesamewithgreatpoliteness。Shelookedinhiseye，andsawhewasnottobetrifledwith。Shecompliedlikealamb，andtheheavenlycolorandvelvetglossthatresultedwereadmirable。
Hekissedherandsaid，\"Ah!nowyouaremyRosaagain。Obligemebyhandingoverthatpowder-pufftome。\"Shelookedvexed，butcomplied。\"WhenyoucomebackIwilltellyouwhy。\"
\"Youareapest，\"saidMrs。Staines，andsojoinedherfriend，rosywithrain-waterandarub。
\"Dearme，howhandsomeyoulookto-day!\"wasMissLucas\'sfirstremark。
Rosaneverdreamedthatrain-waterandrubcouldbethecauseofherlookingsowell。
\"Itismytiresomehusband，\"saidshe。\"Heobjectstopowder，andhehastakenawaymypuff。\"
\"Andyoustoodthat?\"
\"Obligedto。\"
\"Why，youpoor-spiritedlittlecreature，Ishouldliketoseeahusbandpresumetointerferewithmeinthosethings。Here，takemine。\"
Rosahesitatedalittle。\"Well——no——Ithinknot。\"
MissLucaslaughedather，andquizzedhersoonherallowingamantointerfereinsuchsacredthingsasdressandcosmetics，thatshecamebackirritatedwithherhusband，andgavehimashortanswerortwo。Thenheaskedwhatwasthematter。
\"Youtreatmelikeachild——takingawaymyverypuff。\"
\"Itreatyoulikeabeautifulflower，thatnobadgardenershallwitherwhilstIamhere。\"
\"Whatnonsense!Howcouldthatwitherme?Itisonlyvioletpowder——whattheyputonbabies。\"
\"AndwhoaretheHerodsthatputitonbabies?\"
\"Theirownmothers，thatlovethemtentimesmorethanthefathersdo。\"
\"Andkillahundredofthemforoneamaneverkills。Mothers!——
themostwholesalehomicidesinthenation。Wewillexamineyourviolet-powder:bringitdownhere。\"
Whileshewasgonehesentforabreakfast-cupfulofflour，andwhenshecamebackhehadhisscalesout，andbeggedhertoputateaspoonfulofflourintoonescaleandofvioletpowderintoanother。Theflourkickedthebeam，asHomerexpresseshimself。
\"Putanotherspoonfulofflour。\"
Theonespoonfulofvioletpowderoutweighedthetwoofflour。
\"Now，\"saidStaines，\"doesnotthatshowyouthepresenceofamineralinyourvegetablepowder?Isupposetheytellyouitismadeofwhitevioletsdried，andtrituratedinadiamondmill。Letusfindoutwhatmetalitis。Weneednotgoverydeepintochemistryforthat。\"Hethenappliedasimpletest，anddetectedthepresenceofleadinlargequantities。Thenhelecturedher:
\"Invisibleperspirationisaprocessofnaturenecessarytohealthandtolife。Theskinismadeporousforthatpurpose。Youcankillanybodyinanhourortwobyclosingthepores。Acertaininfallibleass，calledPopeLeoXII。，killedalittleboyintwohours，bygildinghimtoadornthepageantofhisfirstprocessionasPope。Butwhatisdeathtothewholebodymustbeinjurioustoapart。Whatmadness，then，toclogtheporesofsolargeandimportantasurfaceastheface，andchecktheinvisibleperspiration:howmuchmoretoinsertleadintoyoursystemeverydayofyourlife；acumulativepoison，andonesodeadlyandsosubtle，thattheSheffieldfile-cuttersdieintheirprime，frommerelyhammeringonaleadenanvil。Andwhatdoyougainbythissuicidalhabit?Noplumhasasweeterbloomormoredelicioustexturethantheskinofyouryoungface；butthismineralfilthhidesthatdelicatetexture，andsubstitutesadry，uniformappearance，morelikeacertainkindofleprosythanhealth。
Naturemadeyourfacetherivalofpeaches，roses，lilies；andyousay，\'No；IknowbetterthanmyCreatorandmyGod；myfaceshallbelikeadustymiller\'s。\'Gointoanyflour-mill，andthereyoushallseemenwithfacesexactlylikeyourfriendMissLucas\'s。
Butbeforeamillergoestohissweetheart，healwayswasheshisface。Youladieswouldnevergetamillerdowntoyourlevelinbrains。Itisamiller\'sDIRTYfaceourmono-maniacsofwomanimitate，notthefaceamillergoesa-courtingwith。\"
\"La!whatafussaboutnothing!\"
\"Aboutnothing!Isyourhealthnothing?Isyourbeautynothing?
Well，then，itwillcostyounothingtopromisemenevertoputpowderonyourfaceagain。\"
\"Verywell，Ipromise。Nowwhatwillyoudoforme?\"
\"Workforyou——writeforyou——sufferforyou——beself-denyingforyou——andevengivemyselfthepainofdisappointingyounowandthen——lookingforwardtothetimewhenIshallbeabletosay\'Yes\'
toeverythingyouaskme。Ah!child，youlittleknowwhatitcostsmetosay\'No\'toYOU。\"
Rosaputherarmsroundhimandacquiesced。Shewasoneofthosewhogowiththelastspeaker；but，forthatveryreason，theeternalcompanionshipofsoflightyandflirtyagirlasMissLucaswasinjurioustoher。
OnedayLadyCicelyTrehernewassittingwithMrs。Staines，smilinglanguidlyathertalk，andoccasionallydrawlingoutalittleplaingoodsense，whenincameMissLucas，withhertonguewellhung，asusual，anddashedintotwentytopicsintenminutes。
Thisyoungladyinherdiscoursewaslikethoselittleoilybeetlesyouseeinsmallponds，whosewholelifeisspentintacking——
confoundthemforit!——generallyatrightangles。WhattheyareinnavigationwasMissLucasinconversation:tackedsoeternallyfromtopictotopic，thatnomanonearth，andnoteverywoman，couldfollowher。
Atthesightandsoundofher，LadyCicelycongealedandstiffened。
EasyandunpretendingwithMrs。Staines，shewasalldignity，andevenmajesty，inthepresenceofthischatterbox；andthesmoothnesswithwhichthetransfigurationwasaccomplishedmarkedthataccomplishedactressthehigh-bredwomanoftheworld。
Rosa，betterabletoestimatethechangeofmannerthanMissLucaswas，whodidnotknowhowlittlethisSawnywasafflictedwithmisplaceddignity，lookedwistfullyanddistressedather。LadyCicelysmiledkindlyinreply，rose，withoutseemingtohurry，——
catchhercondescendingtoberudetoCharlotteLucas，——andtookherdeparture，withaprofoundandmostgraciouscourtesytotheladywhohaddrivenheraway。
Mrs。Stainessawherdown-stairs，andsaid，ruefully，\"IamafraidyoudonotlikemyfriendMissLucas。Sheisagreatrattle，butsogood-naturedandclever。\"
LadyCicelyshookherhead。\"Clevaapeopledon\'ttalksomuchnonsensebeforestrangaas。\"
\"Oh，dear!\"saidRosa。\"Iwasinhopesyouwouldlikeher。\"
\"DoYOUlikeher?\"
\"IndeedIdo；butIshallnot，ifshedrivesanolderfriendaway。\"
\"Mydyah，I\'mnoteasilydwivenfromthoseIesteem。Butyouundastandthatisnotawomanformetomispwonowncemy\'ah\'sbefaw——NORFORYOUTOMAKEABOSOMFWIENDOF——WOSASTAINES。\"
Shesaidthiswithasuddenmaternalsolemnityandkindnessthatcontrastednoblyandstrangelywithheryea-naystyle，andMrs。
Stainesrememberedthewordsyearsaftertheywerespoken。
ItsohappenedthatafterthisMrs。StainesreceivednomorevisitsfromLadyCicelyforsometime，andthatvexedher。Sheknewhersexenoughtobeawarethattheyareveryjealous，andshepermittedherselftothinkthatthishigh-mindedSawnywasjealousofMissLucas。
Thisidea，foundedonageneralestimateofhersex，wasdispelledbyafewlinesfromLadyCicely，tosayherfamilyandherselfwereindeepdistress；herbrother，LordAyscough，laydyingfromanaccident。
ThenRosawasallremorse，andrandowntoStainestotellhim。
Shefoundhimwithanopenletterinhishand。ItwasfromDr。
Barr，andonthesamesubject。Thedoctor，whohadalwaysbeenfriendlytohim，invitedhimtocomedownatoncetoHallowtreeHall，inHuntingdonshire，toaconsultation。Therewasafriendlyintimationtostartatonce，asthepatientmightdieanymoment。
Husbandandwifeembracedeachotherinatumultofsurprisedthankfulness。Afewnecessarieswerethrownintoacarpet-bag，andDr。StaineswassoonwhirledintoHuntingdonshire。Havingtelegraphedbeforehand，hewasmetatthestationbytheearl\'scarriageandpeople，anddriventotheHall。Hewasreceivedbyanold，silver-hairedbutler，lookingverysad，whoconductedhimtoaboudoir；andthenwentandtappedgentlyatthedoorofthepatient\'sroom。Itwasopenedandshutverysoftly，andLadyCicely，dressedinblack，andlookingpalerthanever，cameintotheroom。
\"Dr。Staines，Ithink?\"
