\"Noonecaneverthinkaladyextravagantforbuyingablacksilk；
it\'ssuchausefuldress；lastsforever——almost。\"
Days，weeks，andmonthsrolledon，andwiththemanever-rollingtideofflower-shows，dinners，at-homes，balls，operas，lawn-
parties，concerts，andtheatres。
Strangethatinonehousethereshouldbetwopeoplewholovedeachother，yettheirlivesransofarapart，exceptwhiletheywereasleep:themanallindustry，self-denial，patience；thewomanallfrivolity，self-indulgence，andamusement；bothchainedtoanoar，only——oneinaworkingboat，theotherinapaintedgalley。
Thewomangottiredfirst，andhercharmingcolorwanedsadly。Shecametohimformedicinetosetherup。\"Ifeelsolanguid。\"
\"No，no，\"saidhe；\"nomedicinecandotheworkofwholesomefoodandrationalrepose。Youlacktheseasonofallnatures，sleep。
Dineathomethreedaysrunning，andgotobedatten。\"
Onthisthedoctor\'swifewenttoachemistforadvice。Hegaveherapinkstimulant；and，asstimulantshavetwoeffects，viz。，firsttostimulate，andthentoweaken，thisdidhernolastinggood。Dr。StainescursedtheLondonseason，andthreatenedtomigratetoLiverpool。
Buttherewasworsebehind。
Returningonedaytohisdressing-room，justafterRosahadcomedown-stairs，hecaughtsightofaredstaininawash-hand-basin。
Heexaminedit；itwasarterialblood。
Hewenttoherdirectly，andexpressedhisanxiety。
\"Oh，itisnothing，\"saidshe。
\"Nothing!Pray，howoftenhasitoccurred?\"
\"Onceortwice。Imusttakeyouradvice，andbequiet，thatisall。\"
Stainesexaminedthehousemaid；sheliedinstinctivelyatfirst，seeinghewasalarmed；but，beingurgedtotellthetruth，saidshehadseenitrepeatedly，andhadtoldthecook。
Hewentdown-stairsagain，andsatdown，lookingwretched。
\"Oh，dear!\"saidRosa。\"Whatisthematternow?\"
\"Rosa，\"saidhe，verygravely，\"therearetwopeopleawomanismadtodeceive——herhusbandandherphysician。Youhavedeceivedboth。\"
CHAPTERX。
IsuspectDr。Stainesmerelymeanttosaythatshehadconcealedfromhimanalarmingsymptomforseveralweeks；butsheansweredinahurry，toexcuseherself，andletthecatoutofthebag——excusemyvulgarity。
\"ItwasallthatMrs。Vivian\'sfault。Shelaughedatmesofornotwearingthem；andshehasawaistyoucanspan——thewretch!\"
\"Oh，then，youhavebeenwearingstaysclandestinely?\"
\"Why，youknowIhave。Oh，whatastupid!Ihaveletitallout。\"
\"Howcouldyoudoit，whenyouknew，byexperience，itisyourdeath?\"
\"Butitlookssobeautiful，atinywaist。\"
\"ItlooksashideousasaChinesefoot，and，totheeyeofscience，farmoredisgusting；itisthecauseofsomanyunlovelydiseases。\"
\"Justtellmeonething；haveyoulookedatMrs。Vivian?\"
\"Minutely。Ilookatallyourfriendswithgreatanxiety，knowingnoanimalmoredangerousthanafool。Vivian——askinnywoman，withaprettyface，lovelyhair，goodteeth，dyingeyes\"——
\"Yes，lovely!\"
\"Asureproofofadisorderedstomach——andawaistpinchedinsounnaturally，thatIsaidtomyself，\'Whereonearthdoesthisidiotputherliver?\'Didyoueverreadofthefrogwhoburst，tryingtoswelltoanox?Well，hereistherivalryreversed；Mrs。Vivianisabagofbonesinaballoon；shecanmachineherselfintoawasp；
butafineyoungwomanlikeyou，withfleshandmuscle，mustkillyourselfthreeorfourtimesbeforeyoucanmakeyourbodyasmeagre，hideous，angular，andunnaturalasVivian\'s。Butallyouladiesaremono-maniacs；onemightaswelltalksensetoagorilla。
Itbroughtyoutotheedgeofthegrave。Isavedyou。Yetyoucouldgoand——Godgrantmepatience。SoIsupposetheseunprincipledwomenlentyoutheirstaystodeceiveyourhusband?\"
\"No。Buttheylaughedatmesothat——Oh，Christie，I\'mawretch；
IkeptapairattheLucases，andapairatMadameCie\'s，andIputthemonnowandthen。\"
\"Butyouneverappearedhereinthem?\"
\"What，beforemytyrant?Ohno，Idarednot。\"
\"Soyoutookthemoffbeforeyoucamehome?\"
Rosahungherhead，andsaid\"Yes\"inareluctantwhisper。
\"Youspentyourdaylightdressing。Youdressedtogoout；dressedagaininstays；dressedagainwithoutthem；andalltodeceiveyourhusband，andkillyourself，atthebiddingoftwoshallow，heartlesswomen，whowoulddanceoveryourgravewithoutapangofremorse，orsentimentofanykind，sincetheylive，likemidges，ONLYTODANCEINTHESUN，ANDSUCKSOMEWORKER\'SBLOOD。\"
\"Oh，Christie!I\'msoeasilyled。Iamtoogreatafooltolive。
Killme!\"
Andshekneeleddown，andrenewedtherequest，lookingupinhisfacewithanexpressionthatmighthavedisarmedCainipsum。
Hesmiledsuperior。\"Thequestionis，areyousorryyouhavebeensothoughtless?\"
\"Yes，dear。Oh!oh!\"
\"Willyoubeverygoodtomakeup?\"
\"Oh，yes。Onlytellmehow；foritdoesnotcomenaturaltopoorme。\"
\"Keepoutofthosewomen\'swayfortherestoftheseason。\"
\"Iwill。\"
\"Bringyourstayshome，andallowmetodowhatIlikewiththem。\"
\"Ofcourse。Cuttheminamillionpieces。\"
\"Tillyouarerecovered，youmustbemypatient，andgonowherewithoutme。\"
\"Thatisnopunishment，Iamsure。\"
\"Punishment!AmIthemantopunishyou?Ionlywanttosaveyou。\"
\"Well，darling，itwon\'tbethefirsttime。\"
\"No；butIdohopeitwillbethelast。\"
CHAPTERXI。
\"Sublatacausatollitureffectus。\"Thestaysbeinggone，anddissipationmoderated，Mrs。Stainesbloomedagain，andtheygaveoneortwounpretendinglittledinnersattheBijou。Dr。Stainesadmittednofalsefriendstothese。Theyneverwentbeyondeight；
fivegentlemen，threeladies。Bythisarrangementtheterriblediscursivenessofthefair，andman\'scrueldispositiontoworkasubjectthreadbare，werecontrolledandmodified，andahappybalanceofconversationestablished。LadyCicelyTrehernewasalwaysinvited，andalwaysmanagedtocome；forshesaid，\"TheywerethemostagweeablelittlepaatiesinLondon，andthehostandhostessbothsointewesting。\"Intheautumn，Stainesworkeddoubletideswiththepen，andfoundavehicleformedicalnarrativesinaweeklymagazinethatdidnotprofessmedicine。
Thisnewveinputhiminheart。Hisfees，towardstheendoftheyear，werelessthanlastyear，becausetherewasnohundred-guineafee；buttherewasamarkedincreaseinthesmallfees，andtheunflaggingpenhadactuallyearnedhimtwohundredpounds，ornearly。Sohewasingoodspirits。
NotsoMrs。Staines；forsometimeshehadbeenuneasy，fretful，andlikeapersonwithaweightonhermind。
OneSundayshesaidtohim，\"Oh，dear，Idofeelsodull。Nobodytogotochurchwith，noryettotheZoo。\"
\"I\'llgowithyou，\"saidStaines。
\"Youwill!Towhich?\"
\"Toboth；inforapenny，inforapound。\"
Sotochurchtheywent；andStaines，whosemottowas\"Hocage，\"
mindedhisbook。Rosahadintervalsofattentiontothewords，butfoundplentyoftimetostudythecostumes。
DuringtheLitanyinbustledClara，thehousemaid，withawhitejacketonsolikehermistress\'s，thatRosaclutchedherownconvulsively，toseewhethershehadnotbeenskinnedofitbysomedevilishsleight-of-hand。
No，itwasonherback；butClara\'swasidentical。
Inherexcitement，RosapinchedStaines，andwithhernose，thatwentlikeawater-wagtail，pointedoutthemalefactor。Thenshewhispered，\"Look!Howdareshe?Myveryjacket!Earringstoo，andbrooches，anddressesherhairlikemine。\"
\"Well，nevermind，\"whisperedStaines。\"Sundayisherday。Wehavegotalltheweektoshine。There，don\'tlookather——\'Fromallevilspeaking，lying，andslandering\'\"——
\"Ican\'tkeepmyeyesoffher。\"
\"AttendtotheLitany。Doyouknow，thisisreallyabeautifulcomposition?\"
\"I\'dratherdotheworkfiftytimesovermyself。\"
\"Hush!peoplewillhearyou。\"
Whentheywalkedhomeafterchurch，Stainestriedtodivertherfromtheconsiderationofherwrongs；butno——allothertopicsweretooflatbycomparison。
Shemournedthehardfateofmistresses——unfortunatecreaturesthatcouldnotdowithoutservants。
\"Isnotthataconfessionthatservantsaregood，usefulcreatures，withalltheirfaults?Thenastothemaniafordress，why，thatisnotconfinedtothem。Itisthemaniaofthesex。Areyoufreefromit?\"
\"No，ofcoursenot。ButIamalady，ifyouplease。\"
\"Thensheisyourintellectualinferior，andmoreexcusable。
Anyway，itiswisetoconniveatathingwecan\'thelp。\"
\"Whatkeepher，afterthis?no，never。\"
\"Mydear，praydonotsendheraway，forsheistidyinthehouse，andquick，andbetterthananyonewehavehadthislastsixmonths；andyouknowyouhavetriedagreatnumber。\"
\"Tohearyouspeak，onewouldthinkitwasmyfaultthatwehavesomanybadservants。\"
\"Ineversaiditwasyourfault；butITHINK，dearest，alittlemoreforbearanceintrifles\"——
\"Trifles!trifles——foramistressandmaidtobeseendressedalikeinthesamechurch?Youtaketheservants\'partagainstme，thatyoudo。\"
\"Youshouldnotsaythat，eveninjest。Comenow，doyoureallythinkajacketlikeyourscanmaketheservantlooklikeyou，ordetractfromyourgraceandbeauty?Thereisaverysimpleway；
putyourjacketbyforafutureoccasion，andwearsomethingelseinitssteadatchurch。\"
\"Anicething，indeed，togiveintothesecreatures。Iwon\'tdoit。\"
\"Whywon\'tyou，thisonce?\"
\"BecauseIwon\'t——there!\"
\"Thatisunanswerable，\"saidhe。
Mrs。Stainessaidthat；butwhenitcametoacting，shedeferredtoherhusband\'swish；sheresignedherintentionofsendingforClaraandgivingherwarning。Onthecontrary，whenClaraletherin，andthewhitejacketsrubbedtogetherinthenarrowpassage，sheactuallysaidnothing，butstalkedtoherownroom，andtoreherjacketoff，andflungitonthefloor。
Unfortunately，shewassolongdressingfortheZoo，thatClaracameintoarrangetheroom。Shepicksupthewhitejacket，takesitinbothhands，givesitaflap，andproceedstohangitupinthewardrobe。
Thenthegreatfeminineheartburstitsbounds。
\"Youcanleavethatalone。Ishallnotwearthatagain。\"
Thereuponensuedanunevenencounter，ClarabeingoneofthoseofwhomtheScripturesays，\"Thepoisonofaspsisundertheirtongues。\"
\"La，ma\'am，\"saidshe，\"why，\'tain\'tsoverydirty。\"
\"No；butitistoocommon。\"
\"Oh，becauseI\'vegotonelikeit。Ay。Missisescan\'tabideagood-lookingservant，nortosee\'emdressedbecoming。\"
\"Mistressesdonotlikeservantstoforgettheirplace，norwearwhatdoesnotbecometheirsituation。\"
\"Mysituation!Why，Icanpaymyway，gowhereIwill。Idon\'ttrembleatthetradesmen\'sknock，assomedo。\"
\"Leavetheroom!Leaveitthismoment。\"
\"Leavetheroom，yes——andI\'llleavethehousetoo，andtellalltheneighborswhatIknowaboutit。\"
Sheflouncedoutandslammedthedoor；andRosasatdown，trembling。
Clararushedtothekitchen，andtheretoldthecookandAndrewPearmanhowshehadgivenittothemistress，andeverywordshehadsaidtoher，withagoodmanymoreshehadnot。
Thecooklaughedandencouragedher。
ButAndrewPearmanwaswroth，andsaid，\"Youtoaffrontourmistresslikethat!Why，ifIhadheardyou，I\'dhavetwistedyourneckforye。\"
\"Itwouldtakeabettermanthanyoutodothat。Youmindyourownbusiness。Sticktoyourone-horsechay。\"
\"Well，I\'mnotabovemyplace，forthatmatter。Butyougalsmustalwaysbeapingyourbetters。\"
\"Ihavegotaproperpride，thatisall，andyouhaven\'t。Yououghttobeashamedofyourselftodotwomen\'swork；driveabroughamandwaitonahorse，andthencomeinandwaitattable，Youareatea-kettlegroom，thatiswhatyouare。Why，mybrotherwascoachmantoLordFitz-James，andgavehislordshipnoticethefirsttimehehadtodrivethechildren。Sayshe，\'Idon\'tobjecttothechildren，mylord，butwithherladyshipinthecarriage。\'
It\'ssuchservantsasyouasspoilplaces。Noservantasknowswhat\'sduetoaservantoughttoknowyou。They\'dscornyour\'quaintance，asIdo，Mr。Pearman。\"
\"Youareastuck-uphussy，andasoldier\'sjade，\"roaredAndrew。
\"Andyouarealowtea-kettlegroom。\"
Thisexpressionwoundedthegreatequestriansoultothequick；therestofSundayheponderedonit；thenextmorninghedrovethedoctor，asusual，butwithaheavyheart。
Meantime，thecookmadehasteandtoldthebakerPearmanhad\"gotithot\"fromthehousemaid，andshehadcalledhimatea-kettlegroom；andinlessthanhalfanhourafterthatitwasineverystableinthemews。Why，asPearmanwastakingthehorseoutofthebrougham，didn\'ttwolittlered-headedurchinscallout，\"Here，comeandseethetea-kettlegroom!\"andatnightsomemischievousboychalkedontheblackdoorofthestablealargewhitetea-
kettle，andnextmorningadrunken，idlefellow，withaclaypipeinhismouth，andadirtypairofcorduroytrousers，nocoat，butashirtveryopenatthechest，showinginflamedskin，theeffectofdrink，inspectedthatworkofartwithblinkingeyesandvacillatingtoes，andsaid，\"Thiscomesofachapdoingtoomuch。
Afewmorelikeyou，andworkwouldbescarce。Afinethingforgentlefolkstomakeonemanfilltwoplaces!butitain\'tthegentlefolks\'fault，it\'sthemanashumors\'em。\"
Pearmanwasapeaceableman，andmadenoreply，butwentonwithhiswork；onlyduringthedayhetoldhismasterthatheshouldbeobligedtohimifhewouldfillhissituationassoonasconvenient。
Themasterinquiredthecause，andthemantoldhim，andsaidthemewswastoohotforhim。
Thedoctorofferedhimfivepoundsayearmore，knowinghehadatreasure；butPearmansaid，withsadnessandfirmness，thathehadmadeuphismindtogo，andgohewould。
Thedoctor\'sheartfairlysankattheprospectoflosingtheonecreaturehecoulddependupon。
NextSundayeveningClarawasout，andfellinwithfriends，towhomsheexaggeratedhergrievance。
Thentheyworkedheruptofury，afterthemannerofservants\'
FRIENDS。Shecamehome，packedherbox，broughtitdown，andthenflouncedintotheroomtoDoctorandMrs。Staines，andsaid，\"I
shan\'tsleepanothernightinthishouse。\"
Rosawasabouttospeak，butDr。Stainesforbadeher:hesaid，\"Youhadbetterthinktwiceofthat。Youareagoodservant，thoughforonceyouhavebeenbetrayedintospeakingdisrespectfully。Whyforfeityourcharacter，andthreeweeks\'wages?\"
\"Idon\'tcareformywages。Iwon\'tstayinsuchahouseasthis。\"
\"Come，youmustnotbeimpertinent。\"
\"Idon\'tmeanto，sir，\"saidshe，loweringhervoicesuddenly；
then，raisingitassuddenly，\"Therearemykeys，ma\'am，andyoucansearchmybox。\"
\"Mrs。Staineswillnotsearchyourbox；andyouwillretireatoncetoyourownpartofthehouse。\"
\"I\'llgofartherthanthat，\"saidshe，andsoonafterthestreetdoorwasslammed；theBijoushook。
Atsixo\'clocknextmorning，shecameforherbox。Ithadbeenputawayforsafety。Pearmantoldhershemustwaittillthedoctorcamedown。Shedidnotwait，butwentatelevenA。M。toapolice-
magistrate，andtookoutasummonsagainstDr。Staines，fordetainingaboxcontainingcertainarticlesspecified——valueunderfifteenpounds。
WhenDr。Stainesheardshehadbeenforherbox，butleftnoaddress，hesentPearmantohuntforher。Hecouldnotfindher。
Sheavoidedthehouse，butsentawomanforherdiurnalloveletters。Dr。Stainessentthewomanbacktofetchher。Shecame，receivedherbox，herletters，andthebalanceofherwages，whichwassmall，forStainesdeductedthethreeweeks\'wages。
Twodaysafterwards，tohissurprise，thesummonswasserved。
Outofrespectforacourtofjustice，howeverhumble，Dr。StainesattendednextMondaytomeetthesummons。
Themagistratewasanelderlyman，withafaceshapedlikeahog\'s，butmuchricherincolor，beingpurpleandpimply；sofoulavisageStaineshadrarelyseen，eveninthelowestclassofthecommunity。
Clarasworethatherboxhadbeenopened，andcertainthingsstolenoutofit；andthatshehadbeenrefusedtheboxnextmorning。
Stainessworethathehadneveropenedthebox，andthat，ifanyoneelsehad，itwaswithherconsent，forshehadleftthekeysforthatpurpose。Hebadethemagistrateobservethatifaservantwentawaylikethis，andleftnoaddress，sheputitoutofthemaster\'sPOWERtosendherboxafterher；andheprovedhehadsometroubletoforcetheboxonher。
Thepig-facedbeakshowedamanifestleaningtowardstheservant，buttherewasn\'talegtostandon；andhedidnotbelieve，norwasitcredible，thatanythinghadbeenstolenoutofherbox。
Atthismoment，Pearman，sentbyRosa，enteredthecourtwithanoldgownofClara\'sthathadbeendiscoveredinthescullery，andascribbling-bookofthedoctor\'s，whichClarahadappropriated，andwrittenamorousversesin，verysuperior——innumber——tothosethathavecomedowntousfromAnacreon。
\"Handmethose，\"saidthepig-facedbeak。
\"Whatarethey，Dr。Staines?\"
\"Ireallydon\'tknow。Imustaskmyservant。\"
\"Why，morethingsofminethathavebeendetained，\"saidClara。
\"Somethingsthathavebeenfoundsincesheleft，\"saidStaines。
\"Oh!thosethathideknowwheretofind。\"
\"Youngwoman，\"saidStaines，\"donotinsultthosewhosebreadyouhaveeaten，andwhohavegivenyoumanypresentsbesidesyourwages。Sinceyouaresoreadytoaccusepeopleofstealing，permitmetosaythatthisbookismine，andnotyours；andyet，yousee，itissentafteryoubecauseyouhavewrittenyourtrashinit。\"
Thepurple，pig-facedbeakwentinstantlyoutoftherecord，andwastedadealoftimereadingClara\'spoetry，andtryingtobewitty。Heraisedthequestionwhosebookthiswas。ThegirlsworethatitWASgivenherbyaladywhowasnowinRome。Stainessworeheboughtitofacertainstationer，andhappeningtohavehispassbookinhispocket，producedanentrycorrespondingwiththedateofthebook。
Thepig-facedbeaksaidthatthedoctor\'swasanimprobablestory，andthatthegownandthebookwerequiteenoughtojustifythesummons。Verdict，oneguineacosts。
\"What，becausetwothingssheneverdemandedhavebeenfoundandsentafterher?Thisismonstrous。Ishallappealtoyoursuperiors。\"
\"IfyouareimpertinentI\'llfineyoufivepounds。\"
\"Verywell，sir。Nowhearme:ifthisisanhonestjudgment，I
prayGodImaybedeadbeforetheyear\'sout；and，ifitisn\'t，I
prayGodyoumaybe。\"
Thenthepig-facedbeakfiredup，andthreatenedtofinehimforblaspheming。
Hedeignednoreply，butpaidtheguinea，andClarasweptoutofthecourt，withatrainayardlong，andleaningonthearmofascarletsoldierwhoavengedDr。Staineswithmilitarypromptitude。
Christopherwenthomeraginginternally，forhithertohehadneverseensogrossacaseofinjustice。
Oneofhishumblepatientsfollowedhim，andsaid，\"IwishIhadknown，sir；youshouldn\'thavecomeheretobeinsulted。Why，nogentlemancanevergetjusticeagainstaservantgirlwhenHEissitting。Itisnotorious，andthatmakesthesehussiessobold。
I\'veseenthatjadeherewiththesamestorytwiceafore。\"
Stainesreachedhomemorediscomposedthanhecouldhavehimselfbelieved。Thereasonwasthatbarefacedinjusticeinacourtofjusticeshookhiswholefaithinman。Heopenedthestreetdoorwithhislatch-key，andfoundtwomenstandinginthepassage。Heinquiredwhattheywanted。
\"Well，sir，\"saidoneofthem，civillyenough，\"weonlywantourdue。\"
\"Forwhat?\"
\"Forgoodsdeliveredatthishouse，sir。Balanceofaccount。\"Andhehandedhimabutcher\'sbill，L88，11s。51/2d。
\"Youmustbemistaken；werunnobillshere。Wepayreadymoneyforeverything。\"
\"Well，sir，\"saidthebutcher，\"therehavebeenpayments；butthebalancehasalwaysbeengaining；andwehavebeenputoffsooften，wedeterminedtoseethemaster。Showyouthebooks，sir，andwelcome。\"
\"Thisinstant，ifyouplease。\"Hetookthebutcher\'saddress，whothenretired，andtheothertradesman，agrocer，toldhimasimilartale；balance，sixtypoundsodd。
Hewenttothebutcher\'s，sickatheart，inspectedthebooks，andsawthat，rightorwrong，theywereincontrovertible；thatdebthadbeengainingslowly，butsurely，almostfromthetimeheconfidedtheaccountstohiswife。Shehadkeptfaithwithhimaboutfiveweeks，nomore。
Thegrocer\'sbookstoldasimilartale。
Thedebtorputhishandtohisheart，andstoodamoment。Theverygrocerpitiedhim，andsaid，\"There\'snoharry，doctor；atrifleonaccount，ifsettlementinfullnotconvenientjustnow。Iseeyouhavebeenkeptinthedark。\"
\"No，no，\"saidChristopher；\"I\'llpayeveryshilling。\"Hegaveonegulp，andhurriedaway。
Atthefishmonger\'s，thesamestory，onlyforasmalleramount。
Abillofnineteenpoundsattheverypastrycook\'s；aplaceshehadpromisedhim，asherphysician，nevertoenter。
Atthedraper\'s，thirty-sevenpoundsodd。
Inshort，wherevershehaddealt，thesamesystem:partialpayments，andever-growingdebt。
RememberingMadameCie，hedroveinacabtoRegentStreet，andaskedforMrs。Staines\'saccount。
\"ShallIsendit，sir?\"
\"No；Iwilltakeitwithme。\"
\"MissEdwards，makeoutMrs。Staines\'saccount，ifyouplease。\"
MissEdwardswasagoodwhilemakingitout；butitwasreadyatlast。Hethrustitintohispocket，withoutdaringtolookatitthere；buthewentintoVerrey\'s，andaskedforacupofcoffee，andperusedthedocument。
Theprincipalitemswereasfollows:——
Ls。
May4。Re-shapingandrepairingelegantlacemantle，18
Chipbonnet，feather，andflowers……44
May20。Makingandtrimmingbluesilkdress——materialpartfound……1919
Fiveyardsrichbluesilktomatch……42
June1。Polonaiseandjackettrimmedwithlace——
materialpartfound……1717
June8。Oneblacksilkdress，handsomelytrimmedwithjetguipureandlace……4918
Afewshredsandfragmentsoffinery，boughtatoddtimes，swelledthebilltoL9911s。6d——nottoterrifythefemalemindwiththreefigures。
Andletnounsophisticatedyoungladyimaginethatthetrimmings，whichconstitutedthree-fourthsofthisbill，wereworthanything。
Theword\"lace，\"inMadameCie\'sbill，invariablymeantmachine-
madetrash，worthtenpenceayard，butchargedeighteenshillingsayardforonepennyworthofworkinputtingiton。Wherereallacewasused，MadameCiealwaysLETHERCUSTOMERSKNOWIT。MissLucas\'sbillforthisyearcontainedthetwofollowinglittleitems:——
Ls。
Richgrosdececilepolonaiseandjackettomatch，trimmedwithChantillylaceandvalenciennes……685
Superbrobedechambre，richlytrimmedwithskunkfur。400
Thecustomerfoundthestuff；viz。，twoshawls。Carolinafoundthenastylittlepole-cats，andgottwenty-fourshillingsforthem；
MadameCiefoundTHEREST。
ButChristopherStaineshadnotMissLucas\'sbilltocomparehiswife\'swith。Hecouldonlycomparethelatterwiththeirincome，andwithmalenotionsofcommonsenseandreason。
Hewenthome，andintohisstudio，andsatdownonhishardbeechchair；helookedroundonhisbooksandhiswork，andthen，forthefirsttime，rememberedhowlongandhowpatientlyhehadtoiledforeveryhundredpoundshehadmade；andhelaidtheevidencesofhiswife\'sprofusionanddeceitbythesideofthosesignsofpainfulindustryandself-denial，andhissoulfilledwithbitterness。
\"Deceit!deceit!\"
Mrs。Stainesheardhewasinthehouse，andcametoknowaboutthetrial。Shecamehurriedlyin，andcaughthimwithhisheadonthetable，inanattitudeofprostration，quitenewtohim；heraisedhisheaddirectlyheheardher，andrevealedaface，pale，stern，andwretched。
