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Staines and Rosa Lusignan as merely one incident in their lives； an
incident which； so far from ending their story； led by degrees to
more striking events than any that occurred to them before they
were man and wife。
They returned； then； from their honey tour； and Staines； who was
methodical and kept a diary； made the following entry therein：
〃We have now a life of endurance； and self…denial； and economy；
before us； we have to rent a house； and furnish it； and live in it；
until professional income shall flow in and make all things easy：
and we have two thousand five hundred pounds left to do it with。〃
They came to a family hotel； and Dr。 Staines went out directly
after breakfast to look for a house。 Acting on a friend's advice；
he visited the streets and places north of Oxford Street； looking
for a good commodious house adapted to his business。 He found
three or four at fair rents； neither cheap nor dear； the district
being respectable and rather wealthy； but no longer fashionable。
He came home with his notes； and found Rosa beaming in a crisp
peignoir； and her lovely head its natural size and shape； high…bred
and elegant。 He sat down； and with her hand in his proceeded to
describe the houses to her； when a waiter threw open the door
〃Mrs。 John Cole。〃
〃Florence！〃 cried Rosa； starting up。
In flowed Florence： they both uttered a little squawk of delight；
and went at each other like two little tigresses； and kissed in
swift alternation with a singular ardor； drawing their crests back
like snakes； and then darting them forward and inflicting what； to
the male philosopher looking on； seemed hard kisses； violent
kisses； rather than the tender ones to be expected from two tender
creatures embracing each other。
〃Darling；〃 said Rosa； 〃I knew you would be the first。 Didn't I
tell you so； Christopher？My husbandmy darling Florry！ Sit
down； love； and tell me everything； he has just been looking out
for a house。 Ah！ you have got all that over long ago： she has been
married six months。 Florry； you are handsomer than ever； and what
a beautiful dress！ Ah！ London is the place。 Real Brussels； I
declare；〃 and she took hold of her friend's lace and gloated on it。
Christopher smiled good…naturedly； and said； 〃I dare say you ladies
have a good deal to say to each other。〃
〃Oceans；〃 said Rosa。
〃I will go and hunt houses again。〃
〃There's a good husband；〃 said Mrs。 Cole； as soon as the door
closed on him； 〃and such a fine man！ Why； he must be six feet。
Mine is rather short。 But he is very good； refuses me nothing。 My
will is law。〃
〃That is all rightyou are so sensible； but I want governing a
little； and I like itactually。 Did the dressmaker find it；
dear？〃
〃Oh； no！ I had it by me。 I bought it at Brussels on our wedding
tour： it is dearer there than in London。〃
She said this as if 〃dearer〃 and 〃better〃 were synonymous。
〃But about your house； Rosie dear？〃
〃Yes； darling； I'll tell you all about it。 I never saw a moire
this shade before。 I don't care for them in general； but this is
so distingue。〃
Florence rewarded her with a kiss。
〃The house；〃 said Rosa。 〃Oh； he has seen one in Portman Street；
and one in Gloucester Place。〃
〃Oh； that will never do；〃 cried Mrs。 Cole。 〃It is no use being a
physician in those out…of…the…way places。 He must be in Mayfair。〃
〃Must he？〃
〃Of course。 Besides； then my Johnnie can call him in when they are
just going to die。 Johnnie is a general prac。； and makes two
thousand a year； and he shall call your one in； but he must live in
Mayfair。 Why； Rosie； you would not be such a goose as to live in
those placesthey are quite gone by。〃
〃I shall do whatever you advise me； dear。 Oh； what a comfort to
have a dear friend： and six months married； and knows things。 How
richly it is trimmed！ Why； it is nearly all trimmings。〃
〃That is the fashion。〃
〃Oh！〃
And after that big word there was no more to be said。
These two ladies in their conversation gravitated towards dress；
and fell flat on it every half…minute。 That great and elevating
topic held them by a silken cord； but it allowed them to flutter
upwards into other topics； and in those intervals； numerous though
brief； the lady who had been married six months found time to
instruct the matrimonial novice with great authority； and even a
shade of pomposity。 〃My dear； the way ladies and gentlemen get a
housein the first place； you don't go about yourself like that；
and you never go to the people themselves； or you are sure to be
taken in； but to a respectable house…agent。〃
〃Yes； dear； that must be the best way； one would think。〃
〃Of course it is； and you ask for a house in Mayfair； and he shows
you several； and recommends you the best； and sees you are not
cheated。〃
〃Thank you； love；〃 said Rosa； 〃now I know what to do； I'll not
forget a word。 And the train so beautifully shaped！ Ah！ it is
only in London or Paris they can make a dress flow behind like
that；〃 etc。； etc。
Dr。 Staines came back to dinner in good spirits； he had found a
house in Harewood Square； good entrance hall； where his gratuitous
patients might sit on benches； good dining…room where his superior
patients might wait； and good library； to be used as a consulting…
room。 Rent only eighty…five pounds per annum。
But Rosa told him that would never do； a physician must be in the
fashionable part of the town。
〃Eventually；〃 said Christopher； 〃but surely at first startingand
you know they say little boats should not go too far from shore。〃
Then Rosa repeated all her friend's arguments； and seemed so
unhappy at the idea of not living near her； that Staines； who had
not yet said the hard word 〃no〃 to her； gave in； consoling his
prudence with the reflection that； after all； Mr。 Cole could put
many a guinea in his way； for Mr。 Cole was middle…aged；though his
wife was young；and had really a very large practice。
So next day； the newly…wedded pair called on a house…agent in
Mayfair； and his son and partner went with them to several places。
The rents of houses equal to that in Harewood Square were three
hundred pounds a year at least； and a premium to boot。
Christopher told him these were quite beyond the mark。 〃Very
well；〃 said the agent。 〃Then I'll show you a Bijou。〃
Rosa clapped her hands。 〃That is the thing for us。 We don't want
a large house； only a beautiful one； and in Mayfair。〃
〃Then the Bijou will be sure to suit you。〃
He took them to the Bijou。
The Bijou had a small dining…room with one very large window in two
sheets of plate glass； and a projecting balcony full of flowers； a
still smaller library； which opened on a square yard enclosed。
Here were a great many pots； with flowers dead or dying from
neglect。 On the first floor a fair…sized drawing…room； and a tiny
one at the back： on the second floor； one good bedroom； and a
dressing…room； or little bedroom： three garrets above。
Rosa was in ecstasies。 〃It is a nest；〃 said she。
〃It is a bank…note；〃 said the agent； stimulating equal enthusiasm；
after his fashion。 〃You can always sell the lease again for more
money。〃
Christopher kept cool。 〃I don't want a house to sell； but to live
in； and do my business； I am a physician： now the drawing…room is
built over the entrance to a mews； the back rooms all look into a
mews： we shall have the eternal noise and smell of a mews。 My
wife's rest will be broken by the carriages rolling in and out。
The hall is fearfully small and stuffy。 The rent is abominably
high； and what is the premium for； I wonder？〃
〃Always a premium in Mayfair； sir。 A lease is property here： the
gentleman is not acquainted with this part； madam。〃
〃Oh； yes； he is；〃 said Rosa； as boldly as a six years' wife： 〃he
knows everything。〃
〃Then he knows that a house of this kind at a hundred and thirty
pounds a year in Mayfair is a bank…note。〃
Staines turned to Rosa。 〃The poor patients； where am I to receive
them？〃
〃In the stable；〃 suggested the house agent。
〃Oh！〃 said Rosa； shocked。
〃Well； then； the coach…house。 Why； there's plenty of room for a
brougham； and one horse； and fifty poor patients at a time： beggars
musn't be choosers； if you give them physic gratis； that is enough：
you ain't bound to find 'em a palace to sit down in； and hot coffee
and rump steaks all round； doctor。〃
This tickled Rosa so that she burst out laughing； and thenceforward
giggled at intervals； wit of this refined nature having all the
charm of novelty for her。
They inspected the stables； which were indeed the one redeeming
feature in the horrid little Bijou； and then the agent would show
them the kitchen； and the new stove。 He expatiated on this to Mrs。
Staines。 〃Cook a dinner for thirty people； madam。〃
〃And there's room for them to eat itin the road；〃 said Staines。
The agent reminded him there were larger places to be had； by a
very simple process； viz。； paying for them。
Staines thought of the large； comfortable house in Harewood Square。
〃One hundred and thirty pounds a year for this poky little hole？〃
he groaned。
〃Why； it is nothing at all for a Bijou。〃
〃But it is too much for a bandbox。〃
Rosa laid her hand on h