CHAPTERXXIV。
Therecameareaction，andPhoebewasprostratedwithgriefandalarm。HerbrotherneverdoubtednowthatReginaldhadruntoCapeTownforalark。ButPhoebe，thoughshethoughtsotoo，couldnotbesure；andsothedoubleagonyofbereavementanddesertiontorturedherbyturns，andalmosttogether。Forthefirsttimethesemanyyears，shewassocrushedshecouldnotgoaboutherbusiness，butlayonalittlesofainherownroom，andhadtheblindsdown，forherheadachedsoshecouldnotbearthelight。
SheconceivedabitterresentmentagainstStaines；andtoldDicknevertolethimintohersight，ifhedidnotwanttobeherdeath。
InvainDickmadeexcusesforhim:shewouldhearnone。Foronceshewasasunreasonableasanyotherlivingwoman:shecouldseenothingbutthatshehadbeenhappy，afteryearsofmisery，andshouldbehappynowifthismanhadneverenteredherhouse。\"Ah，Collie!\"shecried，\"youwerewiserthanIwas。Youasgoodastoldmehewouldmakemesmartforlodgingandcuringhim。AndI
wasSOhappy!\"
DalecommunicatedthisasdelicatelyashecouldtoStaines。
Christopherwasdeeplygrievedandwounded。Hethoughtitunjust，butheknewitwasnatural:hesaid，humbly，\"Ifeelguiltymyself，Mr。Dale；andyet，unlessIhadpossessedomniscience，whatcouldI
do?Ithoughtofherinall——poorthing!poorthing!\"
Thetearswereinhiseyes，andDickDalewentawayscratchinghisheadandthinkingitover。Themorehethought，thelesshewasinclinedtocondemnhim。
Staineshimselfwasmuchtroubledinmind，andlivedonthorns。HewantedtobeofftoEngland；grudgedeveryday，everyhour，hespentinAfrica。ButMrs。Falconwashisbenefactress；hehadbeen，formonthsandmonths，garneringupaheapofgratitudetowardsher。Hehadnotthehearttoleaveherbadfriends，andinmisery。HekepthopingFalconwouldreturn，orwrite。
Twodaysafterhisreturn，hewasseated，disconsolate，gluinggarnetsandcarbunclesontoabroadtaperingbitoflambskin，whenUcatellacametohimandsaid，\"Mydoctorchildsick?\"
\"No，notsick:butmiserable。\"Andheexplainedtoher，aswellashecould，whathadpassed。\"But，\"saidhe，\"Iwouldnotmindthelossofthediamondsnow，ifIwasonlysurehewasalive。Ithinkmostofpoor，poorMrs。Falcon。\"
WhileUcatellaponderedthis，butwithoneeyeofdemurecuriosityonthecoronethewasmaking，hetoldheritwasforher——hehadnotforgotheratthemines。
\"Thesestones，\"saidhe，\"arenotvaluedthere；butseehowglorioustheyare!\"
Inafewminuteshehadfinishedthecoronet，andgaveither。Sheutteredachuckleofdelight，andwithinstinctiveart，boundit，inaturnofherhand，aboutherbrow；andthenStaineshimselfwasstruckdumbwithamazement。Thecarbunclesgatheredfromthosemineslooklikerubies，sofulloffirearethey，andofenormoussize。Thechaplethadtwelvegreatcarbunclesinthecentre，andwentoffbygradationsintosmallergarnetsbythethousand。Theyflashedtheirblood-redflamesintheAfricansun，andtheheadofUcatella，grandbefore，becametheheadoftheSphinx，encircledwithacoronetoffire。ShebestowedalookofrapturousgratitudeonStaines，andthenglidedaway，likethestatelyJuno，toadmireherselfinthenearestglasslikeanyothercoquette，black，brown，yellow，copper，orwhite。
Thatveryday，towardssunset，sheburstuponStainesquitesuddenly，withhercoronetgleamingonhermagnificenthead，andhereyeslikecoalsoffire，andunderhermagnificentarm，hardasarock，aboykickingandstrugglinginvain。Shewasfuriouslyexcited，and，forthefirsttime，showedsignsofthesavageinthewhitesofhereyes，whichseemedtoturnthegloriouspupilsintosemicircles。SheclutchedStainesbytheshoulderwithherlefthand，andsweptalongwiththepair，likedarkFate，oraspotentjusticesweepsawayapairofculprits，andcarriedthemtothelittlewindow，andcried\"Open——open!\"
DickDalewasatdinner；Phoebelyingdown。Dickgotup，rathercrossly，andthrewopenthewindow。\"Whatisupnow?\"saidhecrossly:hewasliketwoorthreemoreEnglishmen——hatedtobebotheredatdinner-time。
\"Dar，\"screamedUcatella，settingdownTim，butholdinghimtightbytheshoulder；\"nowyoutellwhatyouseethatnight，youlillyKafirtrash；ifyounottell，IkillyouDEAD；\"andsheshowedthewhitesofhereyes，likeawildbeast。
Tim，thoroughlyalarmed，quiveredoutthathehadseenlillymasterrideuptothegateonebrightnight，andlookin，andTimthoughthewasgoingin:buthechangedhismind，andgallopedawaythatway；andthemonkeypointedsouth。
\"Andwhycouldn\'tyoutellusthisbefore?\"questionedDick。
\"Meminddesheep，\"saidTimapologetically。\"Menotminddelillymaster:jackalsnoteathim。\"
\"Younomoresensedanasheepyourself，\"saidUcatellaloftily。
\"No，no:Godblessyouboth，\"criedpoorPhoebe:\"nowIknowtheworst:\"andagreatburstoftearsrelievedhersufferingheart。
Dickwentoutsoftly。Whenhegotoutsidethedoor，hedrewthemallapart，andsaid，\"Yuke，youAREagood-heartedgirl。I\'llneverforgetthiswhileIlive；and，Tim，there\'sashillingforthee；butdon\'tyougoandspenditinCapesmoke；thatispoisontowhites，anddestructiontoblacks。\"
\"No，master，\"saidTim。\"Ishallbuymuchbread，andmakemytomachtiff；\"then，withaglanceofreproachatthedomesticcaterer，Ucatella，\"Ialmostneverhavemytomachtiff。\"
Dicklefthissisteraloneanhourortwo，tohavehercryout。
Whenhewentbacktohertherewasachange:thebravewomannolongerlayprostrate。Shewentaboutherbusiness；onlyshewasalwayseithercryingordrowninghertears。
HebroughtDr。Stainesin。Phoebeinstantlyturnedherbackonhimwithashuddertherewasnomistaking。
\"Ihadbettergo，\"saidStaines。\"Mrs。Falconwillneverforgiveme。\"
\"Shewillhavetoquarrelwithmeelse，\"saidDicksteadily。\"Sityoudown，doctor。HonestfolklikeyouandmeandPhoebewasn\'tmadetoquarrelforwantoflookingathingallround。Mysistershehasn\'tlookeditallround，andIhave。Come，Pheeb，\'tisnouseyourblindingyourself。Howwasthepoordoctortoknowyourhusbandisablackguard?\"
\"Heisnotablackguard。Howdareyousaythattomyface?\"
\"Heisablackguard，andalwayswas。Andnowheisathieftoboot。Hehasstolenthosediamonds；youknowthatverywell。\"
\"Gently，Mr。Dale；youforget:theyareasmuchhisasmine。\"
\"Well，andifhalfasheepismine，andItakethewholeandsellhim，andkeepthemoney，whatisthatbutstealing?Why，Iwonderatyou，Pheeb。Youwasalwayshonestyourself，andyetyouseethedoctorrobbedbyyourman，andthatdoesnottroubleyou。Whathashedonetodeserveit?Hehasbeenagoodfriendtous。Hehasputusontheroad。Wedidlittlemorethankeepthepotboilingbeforehecame——well，yes，westoredgrain；butwhoseadvicehasturnedthatgraintogold，Imightsay?Well，what\'shisoffence?
Hetrustedthediamondstoyourman，andsenthimtoyou。Ishethefirsthonestmanthathastrustedarogue?Howwashetoknow?
Likelyhejudgedthehusbandbythewife。Answermeonething，Pheeb。Ifhemakesawaywithfifteenhundredpoundsthatishis，orpartlyyours——forhehaseatenyourbreadeversinceIknewhim——
andfifteenhundredmorethatisthedoctor\'s，whereshallwefindfifteenhundredpounds，allinamoment，topaythedoctorbackhisown?\"
\"Myhonestfriend，\"saidStaines，\"youaretormentingyourselfwithshadows。Idon\'tbelieveMr。Falconwillwrongmeofashilling；
and，ifhedoes，Ishallquietlyrepaymyselfoutofthebigdiamond。Yes，mydearfriends，Ididnotthrowawayyourhorse，noryourrifle，noryourmoney:Igavethemall，andthelion\'sskin——Igavethemall——forthis。\"
Andhelaidthebigdiamondonthetable。
Itwasasbigasawalnut，andofthepurestwater。
DickDaleglancedatitstupidly。Phoebeturnedherbackonit，withacryofhorror，andthencameslowlyroundbydegrees；andhereyeswerefascinatedbytheroyalgem。
\"Yes，\"saidStainessadly，\"Ihadtostripmyselfofalltobuyit，and，whenIhadgotit，howproudIwas，andhowhappyIthoughtweshouldallbeoverit，foritishalfyours，halfmine。Yes，Mr。
Dale，thereliessixthousandpoundsthatbelongtoMrs。Falcon。\"
\"Sixthousandpounds!\"criedDick。
\"I\'msureofit。Andso，ifyoursuspicionsarecorrect，andpoorFalconshouldyieldtoasuddentemptation，andspendallthatmoney，Ishalljustcoollydeductitfromyourshareofthiswonderfulstone:somakeyourmindeasy。Butno；ifFalconisreallysowickedastodeserthishappyhome，andsomadastospendthousandsinamonthortwo，letusgoandsavehim。\"
\"Thatismybusiness，\"saidPhoebe。\"Iamgoinginthemail-cartto-morrow。\"
\"Well，youwon\'tgoalone，\"saidDick。
\"Mrs。Falcon，\"saidStainesimploringly，\"letmegowithyou。\"
\"Thankyou，sir。Mybrothercantakecareofme。\"
\"Me!Youhadbetternottakeme。IfIcatchholdofhim，by——
I\'llbreakhisneck，orhisback，orhisleg，orsomething；he\'llneverrunawayfromyouagain，ifIlayhandsonhim，\"repliedDick。
\"I\'llgoalone。Youarebothagainstme。\"
\"No，Mrs。Falcon；Iamnot，\"saidStaines。\"Myheartbleedsforyou。\"
\"Don\'tyoudemeanyourself，prayingher，\"saidDick。\"It\'sapublicconveyance:youhavenoneedtoaskHERleave。\"
\"Thatistrue:Ican\'thinderfolkfromgoingtoCapeTownthesameday，\"saidPhoebesullenly。
\"IfImightpresumetoadvise，IwouldtakelittleTommy。\"
\"What!allthatroad?Doyouwantmetolosemychild，aswellasmyman?\"
\"OMrs。Falcon!\"
\"Don\'tspeaktoher，doctor，togetyournosesnappedoff。Givehertime。She\'llcometohersensesbeforeshedies。\"
NextdayMrs。FalconandStainesstartedforCapeTown。Stainespaidhereveryattention，whenopportunityoffered。Butshewassullenandgloomy，andheldnoconversewithhim。
Helandedherataninn，andthentoldherhewouldgoatoncetothejeweller\'s。Heaskedherpiteouslywouldshelendhimapoundortwotoprosecutehisresearches。Shetookoutherpurse，withoutaword，andlenthimtwopounds。
Hebegantoscourthetown:thejewellershevisitedcouldtellhimnothing。Atlasthecametoashop，andtherehefoundMrs。Falconmakingherinquiriesindependently。Shesaidcoldly，\"Youhadbettercomewithme，andgetyourmoneyandthings。\"
Shetookhimtothebank——ithappenedtobetheoneshedidbusinesswith——andsaid，\"ThisisDr。Christie，comeforhismoneyandjewels。\"
Therewassomedemuratthis；butthecashierrecognizedhim，andPhoebemakingherselfresponsible，themoneyandjewelswerehandedover。
StaineswhisperedPhoebe，\"Areyousurethejewelsaremine?\"
\"Theywerefoundonyou，sir。\"
Stainestookthem，lookingconfused。Hedidnotknowwhattothink。Whentheygotintothestreetagain，hetoldheritwasverykindofhertothinkofhisinterestatall。
Noanswer:shewasnotgoingtomakefriendswithhimoversuchatrifleasthat。
Bydegrees，however，Christopher\'szealonherbehalfbroketheice；andbesides，asthesearchprovedunavailing，sheneededsympathy；andhegaveither，anddidnotabuseherhusbandasDickDaledid。
Oneday，inthestreet，afteralongthought，shesaidtohim，\"Didn\'tyousay，sir，yougavehimaletterforme?\"
\"Igavehimtwoletters；oneofthemwastoyou。\"
\"Couldyourememberwhatyousaidinit?\"
\"Perfectly。Ibeggedyou，ifyoushouldgotoEngland，tobreakthetruthtomywife。Sheisveryexcitable；andsuddenjoyhaskillederenow。Igaveyouparticularinstructions。\"
\"Andyouwereverywise。ButwhatevercouldmakeyouthinkIwouldgotoEngland?\"
\"Hetoldmeyouonlywantedanexcuse。\"
\"Oh!!\"
\"Whenhetoldmethat，Icaughtatit，ofcourse。ItwasalltheworldtometogetmyRosatoldbysuchakind，good，sensiblefriendasyou；and，Mrs。Falcon，Ihadnoscrupleabouttroublingyou，becauseIknewthestoneswouldsellforatleastathousandpoundsmoreinEnglandthanhere，andthatwouldpayyourexpenses。\"
\"Isee，sir；Isee。\'Twasverynatural:youloveyourwife。\"
\"Betterthanmylife。\"
\"AndhetoldyouIonlywantedanexcusetogotoEngland?\"
\"Hedid，indeed。Itwasnottrue?\"
\"Itwasanythingbuttrue。IhadsufferedsoinEngland；Ihadbeensohappyhere:toohappytolast。Ah!well，itisallover。
Letusthinkofthematterinhand。Surethatwasnottheonlyletteryougavemyhusband?Didn\'tyouwritetoHER?\"
\"OfcourseIdid；butthatwasenclosedtoyou，andnottobegiventoheruntilyouhadbrokenthejoyfulnewstoher。Yes，Mrs。
Falcon，Iwroteandtoldhereverything:mylossatsea；howIwassaved，after，byyourkindness。Ourjourneys，fromCapeTown，andthentothediggings；mysuddengoodfortune，myhopes，myjoy——
OmypoorRosa!andnowIsupposeshewillnevergetit。Itistoocruelofhim。Ishallgohomebythenextsteamer。ICAN\'Tstayhereanylonger，foryouoranybody。Oh，andIenclosedmyrubyringthatshegaveme，forIthoughtshemightnotbelieveyouwithoutthat。\"
\"Letmethink，\"saidPhoebe，turningashypale。\"Formercy\'ssake，letmethink!
\"Hehasreadboththoseletters，sir。
\"Shewillneverseehers:anymorethanIshallseemine。\"
Shepausedagain，thinkingharderandharder。
\"Wemusttaketwoplacesinthenextmailsteamer。Imustlookaftermyhusband，ANDYOUAFTERYOURWIFE。\"
CHAPTERXXV。
Mrs。Falcon\'sbitterfeelingagainstDr。Stainesdidnotsubside；
itmerelywentoutofsightalittle。Theywerethrowntogetherbypotentcircumstances，andinamannerconnectedbymutualobligations；soanopenruptureseemedtoounnatural。StillPhoebewasawoman，and，blindedbyherloveforherhusband，couldnotforgivetheinnocentcauseoftheirpresentunhappyseparation；
thoughthefaultlayentirelywithFalcon。
Stainestookheronboardthesteamer，andpaidhereveryattention。Shewasalsociviltohim；butitwasacoldandconstrainedcivility。
Aboutahundredmilesfromlandthesteamerstopped，andthepassengerssoonlearnedtherewassomethingwrongwithhermachinery。Infact，afterdueconsultation，thecaptaindecidedtoputback。
ThisirritatedanddistressedMrs。Falconsothatthecaptain，desiroustoobligeher，hailedafastschooner，thattackedacrossherbows，andgaveMrs。Falcontheoptionofgoingbackwithhim，orgoingonintheschooner，withwhoseskipperhewasacquainted。
Stainesadvisedheronnoaccounttotrusttosails，whenshecouldhavesteamwithonlyadelayoffourorfivedays；butshesaid，\"Anythingsoonerthangoback。Ican\'t，Ican\'tonsuchanerrand。\"
Accordinglyshewasputonboardtheschooner，andStaines，aftersomehesitation，feltboundtoaccompanyher。
Itprovedasaderror。Contrarywindsassailedthemtheverynextday，andwithsuchseveritythattheyhadrepeatedlytolieto。
Ononeoftheseoccasions，withashipreelingunderthemlikearestivehorse，andthewavesrunningmountainshigh，poorPhoebe\'sterrorsovermasteredbothherhostilityandherreserve。\"Doctor，\"
saidshe，\"Ibelieve\'tisGod\'swillweshallneverseeEngland。I
musttryanddiemorelikeaChristianthanIhavelived，forgivingallwhohavewrongedme，andyou，thathavebeenmygoodfriendandmyworstenemy，butyoudidnotmeanit。Sir，whathasturnedmeagainstyouso——yourwifewasmyhusband\'ssweetheartbeforehemarriedme。\"
\"Mywifeyourhusband\'s——youaredreaming。\"
\"Nay，sir，onceshecametomyshop，andIsawdirectlyIwasnothingtohim，andheowneditalltome；hehadcourtedher，andshejiltedhim；sohesaid。Whyshouldhetellmealieaboutthat?I\'dlaymylife\'tistrue。Andnowyouhavesenthimtoheryourownself；and，atsightofher，Ishallbenothingagain。
Well，whenthisshipgoesdown，theycanmarry，andIhopehewillbehappy，happierthanIcanmakehim，thattriedmybest，Godknows。\"
ThisconversationsurprisedStainesnotalittle。However，hesaid，withgreatwarmth，itwasfalse。Hiswifehaddancedandflirtedwithsomeyounggentlemanatonetime，whentherewasabriefmisunderstandingbetweenhimandher，butsweetheartshehadneverhad，excepthim。Hecourtedherfreshfromschool。\"Now，mygoodsoul，\"saidhe，\"makeyourmindeasy；theshipisagoodone，andwellhandled，andinnodangerwhatever，andmywifeisinnodangerfromyourhusband。Sinceyouandyourbrothertellmethatheisavillain，Iamboundtobelieveyou。Butmywifeisanangel。Inourmiserablehourofparting，shevowednottomarryagain，shouldIbetakenfromher。Marryagain!whatamItalkingof?Why，ifhevisitsheratall，itwillbetoletherknowIamalive，andgivehermyletter。Doyoumeantotellmeshewilllistentovowsoflovefromhim，whenherwholeheartisinraptureforme?Suchnonsense!\"
Thisburstofhisdidnotaffronther，anddidnotcomforther。
Atlastthewindabated；andafterawearisomecalm，alightbreezecame，andtheschoonercrepthomeward。
Phoeberestrainedherselfforseveraldays；butatlastshecamebacktothesubject；thistimeitwasinanapologetictoneatstarting。\"Iknowyouthinkmeafoolishwoman，\"shesaid；\"butmypoorReginaldcouldneverresistaprettyface；andsheissolovely；andyoushouldhaveseenhowheturnedwhenshecameintomyplace。Oh，sir，therehasbeenmorebetweenthemthanyouknowof；andwhenIthinkthathewillhavebeeninEnglandsomanymonthsbeforewegetthere，oh，doctor，sometimesIfeelasI
shouldgomad；myheaditislikeafurnace，andsee，mybrowisallwrinkledagain。\"
ThenStainestriedtocomforther；assuredhershewastormentingherselfidly；herhusbandwouldperhapshavespentsomeofthediamondmoneyonhisamusement；butwhatifhehad?heshoulddeductitoutofthebigdiamond，whichwasalsotheirjointproperty，andthelosswouldhardlybefelt。\"Astomywife，madam，Ihavebutoneanxiety；lestheshouldgoblurtingitoutthatIamalive，andalmostkillherwithjoy。\"
\"Hewillnotdothat，sir。Heisnofool。\"
\"Iamgladofit；forthereisnothingelsetofear。\"
\"Man，Itellyouthereiseverythingtofear。Youdon\'tknowhimasIdo；norhispoweroverwomen。\"
\"Mrs。Falcon，areyoubentonaffrontingme?\"
\"No，sir；Heavenforbid!\"
\"Thenpleasetoclosethissubjectforever。InthreeweeksweshallbeinEngland。\"
\"Ay；buthehasbeentheresixmonths。\"
Hebowedstifflytoher，wenttohiscabin，andavoidedthepoorfoolishwomanasmuchashecouldwithoutseemingtoounkind。
CHAPTERXXVI。
Mrs。Stainesmadeoneortwomovements——tostopLordTadcaster——
withherhand，thatexpressivefeaturewithwhich，atsuchtimes，asensitivewomancandoallbutspeak。
Whenatlasthepausedforherreply，shesaid，\"Memarryagain!
Oh!forshame!\"
\"Mrs。Staines——Rosa——youwillmarryagain，someday。\"
\"Never。Metakeanotherhusband，aftersuchamanasIhavelost!
Ishouldbeamonster。Oh，LordTadcaster，youhavebeensokindtome；sosympathizing。YoumademebelieveyoulovedmyChristopher，too；andnowyouhavespoiledall。Itistoocruel。\"
\"Oh!Mrs。Staines，doyouthinkmecapableoffeigning——don\'tyouseemyloveforyouhastakenyoubysurprise?ButhowcouldI
visityou——lookonyou——hearyou——minglemyregretswithyours；
yourswerethedeepest，ofcourse；butminewerehonest。\"
\"Ibelieveit。\"Andshegavehimherhand。Heheldit，andkissedit，andcriedoverit，astheyoungwill，andimploredher，onhisknees，nottocondemnherselftolife-longwidowhood，andhimtodespair。
Thenshecried，too；butshewasfirm；andbydegreesshemadehimseethatherheartwasinaccessible。
Thenatlasthesubmittedwithtearfuleyes，butavaliantheart。
Sheofferedfriendshiptimidly。
Buthewastoomuchofamantofallintothattrap。\"No，\"hesaid:\"Icouldnot，Icouldnot。Loveornothing。\"
\"Youareright，\"saidshe，pityingly。\"Forgiveme。Inmyselfishnessandmyusualfolly，Ididnotseethiscomingon，orI
wouldhavesparedyouthismortification。\"
\"Nevermindthat，\"gulpedthelittleearl。\"IshallalwaysbeproudIknewyou，andproudIlovedyou，andofferedyoumyhand。\"
Thenthemagnanimouslittlefellowblessedher，andlefther，anddiscontinuedhisvisits。
Mr。Lusignanfoundhercrying，andgotthetruthoutofher。Hewasindespair。Heremonstratedkindly，butfirmly。Truthcompelsmetosaythatshepolitelyignoredhim。Heobservedthatphenomenon，andsaid，\"Verywellthen，IshalltelegraphforUnclePhilip。\"
\"Do，\"saidtherebel。\"Heisalwayswelcome。\"
Philip，telegraphed，camedownthatevening；likewisehislittleblackbag。Hefoundtheminthedrawing-room:papawiththePallMallGazette，Rosaseated，sewing，atalamp。ShemadelittleChristie\'sclothesherself，——fancythat!
Havingascertainedthatthelittleboywaswell，Philip，adroitlyhidingthathehadcomedowntornwithanxietyonthathead，inquiredwithashowofcontemptuousindifference，whosecatwasdead。
\"Nobody\'s，\"saidLusignancrossly。ThenheturnedandpointedtheGazetteathisoffspring。\"Doyouseethatyoungladystitchingtheresodemurely?\"
Philipcarefullywipedandthenputonhisspectacles。
\"Iseeher，\"saidhe。\"Shedoeslookalittletooinnocent。Noneofthemarereallysoinnocentasallthat。Hasshebeenswearingatthenurse，andboxingherears?\"
\"Worsethanthat。ShehasbeenandrefusedtheEarlofTadcaster。\"
\"Refusedhim——what!hasthatlittlemonkeyhadtheaudacity?\"
\"Thecondescension，youmean。Yes。\"
\"Andshehasrefusedhim?\"
\"Andtwentythousandayear。\"
\"Whatimmorality!\"
\"Worse。Whatabsurdity!\"
\"Howisittobeaccountedfor?Isittheoldstory?\'Icouldneverlovehim。\'No；that\'sinadequate；fortheyallloveatitleandtwentythousandayear。\"
Rosasewedonallthistimeindemureandabsolutesilence。
\"Sheignoresus，\"saidPhilip。\"Itisintolerable。Shedoesnotappreciateourpolitenessintalkingather。Letusarraignherbeforeoursacredtribunal，andhaveherintocourt。Now，mistress，theSenateofVeniceisassembled，andyoumustbepleasedtotelluswhyyourefusedatitleandtwentythousandayear，withasmallbutsymmetricalearltackedon。\"
Rosalaiddownherwork，andsaidquietly，\"Uncle，almostthelastwordsthatpassedbetweenmeandmyChristopher，wepromisedeachothersolemnlynevertomarryagaintilldeathshoulduspart。YouknowhowdeepmysorrowhasbeenthatIcanfindsofewwishesofmylostChristophertoobey。Well，to-dayIhavehadanopportunityatlast。Ihaveobeyedmyownlostone；ithascostmeatearortwo；but，forallthat，ithasgivenmeonelittlegleamofhappiness。Ah，foolishwoman，thatobeystoolate!\"
Andwiththisthetearsbegantorun。
Allthisseemedalittletoohigh-flowntoMr。Lusignan。\"There，\"
saidhe，\"seeonwhatastrawhermindturns。So，butforthat，youwouldhavedonetherightthing，andmarriedtheearl?\"
\"IdaresayIshould——atthetime——tostophiscrying。\"
Andwiththislistlessremarkshequietlytookuphersewingagain。
ThesagaciousPhiliplookedathergravely。Hethoughttohimselfhowpiteousitwastoseesoyoungandlovelyacreature，thathadgivenupallhopeofhappinessforherself。Thesebeinghisrealthoughts，heexpressedhimselfasfollows:\"Wehadbetterdropthissubject，sir。Thisyoungladywilltakeuspotent，grave，andreverendseignorsoutofourdepth，ifwedon\'tmind。\"
Butthemomenthegotheralonehekissedherpaternally，andsaid，\"Rosa，itisnotlostonme，yourfidelitytothedead。Asyearsrollon，andyourdeepwoundfirstcloses，thenskins，thenheals——\"
\"Ah，letmediefirst——\"
\"Timeandnaturewillabsolveyoufromthatvow；butblessyouforthinkingthiscanneverbe。Rosa，yourfollyofthisdayhasmadeyoumyheir；soneverletmoneytemptyou，foryouhaveenough，andwillhavemorethanenoughwhenIgo。\"
Hewasasgoodashisword；alteredhiswillnextday，andmadeRosahisresiduarylegatee。Whenhehaddonethis，foreseeingnofreshoccasionforhisservices，hepreparedforalongvisittoItaly。Hewaspackinguphisthingstogothere，whenhereceivedalinefromLadyCicelyTreherne，askinghimtocallonherprofessionally。Asthelady\'sservantbroughtit，hesentbackalinetosayhenolongerpractisedmedicine，butwouldcallonherasafriendinanhour\'stime。
Hefoundherreclining，thepictureoflassitude。\"Howgoodofyoutocome，\"shedrawled。
\"What\'sthematter?\"saidhebrusquely。
\"Iwishtocawnsultyouaboutmyself。Ithinkifanybodycanbrightenmeup，itisyou。Ifeelsuchalanguaw——suchawantofspirit；andIgetpalaa，andthatisnotdesiwable。\"
Heexaminedhertongueandthewhiteofhereye，andtoldher，inhisbluntway，sheateanddranktoomuch。
\"Excuseme，sir，\"saidshestiffly。
\"Imeantoooften。Now，let\'ssee。Cupofteainbed，ofamorning?\"
\"Yaas。\"
\"Dinnerattwo?\"
\"Wecallitluncheon。\"
\"Areyouaventriloquist?\"
\"No。\"
\"Thenitisonlyyourlipscallitluncheon。Yourpoorstomach，coulditspeak，wouldcallitdinner。Afternoontea?\"
\"Yaas。\"
\"Atseven-thirtyanotherdinner。Teaafterthat。Yourafflictedstomachgetsnorest。Youeatpastry?\"
\"Iconfessit。\"
\"Andsugarinadozenforms?\"
Shenodded。
\"Well，sugarispoisontoyourtemperament。NowI\'llsetyouup，ifyoucanobey。Giveupyourmorningdram。\"
\"Whatdwam?\"
\"Teainbed，beforeeating。Can\'tyouseethatisadram?Animalfoodtwiceaday。Nowinebutalittleclaretandwater；nopastry，nosweets，andplaybattledorewithoneofyourmalesubjects。\"
\"Battledaw!won\'taladydoforthat?\"
\"No:youwouldgettalking，andnotplayadsudorem。\"
\"Adsudawem!whatisthat?\"
\"Inearnest。\"
\"Andwillsudawemandthewestputmeinbetterspiwits，andgivemeatinge?\"
\"Itwillincarnadinethelily，andmakeyouthehappiestyoungladyinEngland，asyouarethebest。\"
\"IshouldliketobemuchhappierthanIamgood，ifwecouldmanageitamongus。\"
\"WewillmanageitAMONGus；forifthedietallowedshouldnotmakeyouboisterouslygay，Ihavearemedybehind，suitedtoyourtemperament。Iamold-fashioned，andbelieveinthetemperaments。\"
\"Andwhatisthatwemedy?\"
\"Trydiet，andhardexercise，first。\"
\"Oh，yes；butletmeknowthatwemedy。\"
\"Iwarnyouitiswhatwecallinmedicineanheroicone。\"
\"Nevermind。Iamdespewate。\"
\"Well，then，theheroicremedy——tobeusedonlyasadesperateresort，mind——youmustmarryanIrishman。\"
Thistookthelady\'sbreathaway。
\"Mawwyaniceman?\"
\"Aniceman；no。Thatmeansafool。Marryscientifically——aprecautioneternallyneglected。MarryaHiberniangentleman，abeingasmercurialasyouarelymphatic。\"
\"Mercurial!——lymphatic!\"——
\"Oh，hardwordsbreaknobones，ma\'am。\"
