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papa said〃
〃I don't think I will tell you。 He asked me was there anybody
else； and of course I said 'No。'〃
〃Oh！〃
〃Oh； that is nothing； I had not time to make up my mind to tell the
truth。 I was taken by surprise； and you know one's first impulse
is to fibabout THAT。〃
〃But did you really deceive him？〃
〃No； I blushed； and he caught me； so he said； 'Come； now； there
was。'〃
〃And you said； 'Yes； there is；' like a brave girl as you are。〃
〃What； plump like that？ No； I was frightened out of my wits； like
a brave girl as I am not； and said I should never marry any one he
could disapprove； and thenoh； then I believe I began to cry。
Christopher； I'll tell you something； I find people leave off
teasing you when you crygentlemen； I mean。 Ladies go on all the
more。 So then dear papa kissed me； and told me I must not be
imprudent； and throw myself away； that was all； and I promised him
I never would。 I said he would be sure to approve my choice； and
he said he hoped so。 And so he will。〃
Dr。 Staines looked thoughtful； and said he hoped so too。 〃But now
it comes to the point of asking him for such a treasure； I feel my
deficiencies。〃
〃Why； what deficiencies？ You are young； and handsome； and good；
and ever so much cleverer than other people。 You have only to ask
for me； and insist on having me。 Come； dear； go and get it over。〃
She added； mighty coolly； 〃There is nothing so DREADFUL as
suspense。〃
〃I'll go this minute；〃 said he； and took a step towards the door；
but he turned； and in a moment was at her knees。 He took both her
hands in his； and pressed them to his beating bosom； while his
beautiful eyes poured love into hers point…blank。 〃May I tell him
you love me？ Oh； I know you cannot love me as I love you； but I
may say you love me a little； may I not？that will go farther with
him than anything else。 May I； Rosa； may I？a little？〃
His passion mastered her。 She dropped her head sweetly on his
shoulder； and murmured； 〃You know you may； my own。 Who would not
love you？〃
He parted lingeringly from her； then marched away； bold with love
and hope； to demand her hand in marriage。
Rosa leaned back in her chair； and quivered a little with new
emotions。 Christopher was right； she was not capable of loving
like him； but still the actual contact of so strong a passion made
her woman's nature vibrate。 A dewy tear hung on the fringes of her
long lashes； and she leaned back in her chair and fluttered awhile。
That emotion； almost new to her； soon yielded； in her girlish mind；
to a complacent languor； and that； in its turn； to a soft reverie。
So she was going to be married！ To be mistress of a house； settle
in London （THAT she had quite determined long ago）； be able to go
out into the streets all alone； to shop； or visit； have a gentleman
all her own； whom she could put her finger on any moment and make
him take her about； even to the opera and the theatre； to give
dinner…parties her own self； and even a little ball once in a way；
to buy whatever dresses she thought proper； instead of being
crippled by an allowance； have the legal right of speaking first in
society； even to gentlemen rich in ideas but bad starters； instead
of sitting mumchance and mock…modest； to be Mistress； instead of
Misscontemptible title； to be a woman； instead of a girl； and all
this rational liberty； domestic power； and social dignity were to
be obtained by merely wedding a dear fellow； who loved her； and was
so nice； and the bright career to be ushered in with several
delights； each of them dear to a girl's very soul： presents from
all her friends； as many beautiful new dresses as if she was
changing her body or her hemisphere； instead of her name； eclat；
going to church； which is a good English girl's theatre of display
and temple of vanity； and there tasting delightful publicity and
whispered admiration； in a heavenly long veil； which she could not
wear even once if she remained single。
This bright variegated picture of holy wedlock； and its essential
features； as revealed to young ladies by feminine tradition； though
not enumerated in the Book of Common Prayer writ by grim males； so
entranced her； that time flew by unheeded； and Christopher Staines
came back from her father。 His step was heavy； he looked pale； and
deeply distressed； then stood like a statue； and did not come close
to her； but cast a piteous look； and gasped out one word； that
seemed almost to choke him；〃REFUSED！〃
Miss Lusignan rose from her chair； and looked almost wildly at him
with her great eyes。 〃Refused？〃 said she； faintly。
〃Yes；〃 said he； sadly。 〃Your father is a man of business； and he
took a mere business view of our love： he asked me directly what
provision I could make for his daughter and her children。 Well； I
told him I had three thousand pounds in the Funds； and a good
profession； and then I said I had youth； health； and love；
boundless love； the love that can do； or suffer； the love that can
conquer the world。〃
〃Dear Christopher！ And what COULD he say to all that？〃
〃He ignored it entirely。 There！ I'll give you his very words。 He
said； 'In that case； Dr。 Staines； the simple question is； what does
your profession bring you in per annum？'〃
〃Oh！ There！ I always hated arithmetic； and now I abominate it。〃
〃Then I was obliged to confess I had scarcely received a hundred
pounds in fees this year； but I told him the reason； this is such a
small district； and all the ground occupied。 London； I said； was
my sphere。〃
〃And so it is；〃 said Rosa； eagerly； for this jumped with her own
little designs。 〃Genius is wasted in the country。 Besides；
whenever anybody worth curing is ill down here； they always send to
London for a doctor。〃
〃I told him so； dearest；〃 said the lover。 〃But he answered me
directly； then I must set up in London； and as soon as my books
showed an income to keep a wife； and servants； and children； and
insure my life for five thousand pounds〃
〃Oh； that is so like papa。 He is director of an insurance company；
so all the world must insure their lives。〃
〃No； dear； he was quite right there： professional incomes are most
precarious。 Death spares neither young nor old； neither warm
hearts nor cold。 I should be no true physician if I could not see
my own mortality。〃 He hung his head and pondered a moment； then
went on； sadly； 〃It all comes to thisuntil I have a professional
income of eight hundred a year at least； he will not hear of our
marrying； and the cruel thing is； he will not even consent to an
engagement。 But；〃 said the rejected； with a look of sad anxiety；
〃you will wait for me without that； dear Rosa？〃
She could give him that comfort； and she gave it him with loving
earnestness。 〃Of course I will； and it shall not be very long。
Whilst you are making your fortune； to please papa； I will keep
fretting； and pouting； and crying； till he sends for you。〃
〃Bless you； dearest！ Stop！not to make yourself ill！ not for all
the world。〃 The lover and the physician spoke in turn。
He came； all gratitude； to her side； and they sat； hand in hand；
comforting each other： indeed； parting was such sweet sorrow that
they sat； handed； and very close to one another； till Mr。 Lusignan；
who thought five minutes quite enough for rational beings to take
leave in； walked into the room and surprised them。 At sight of his
gray head and iron…gray eyebrows； Christopher Staines started up
and looked confused； he thought some apology necessary； so he
faltered out； 〃Forgive me； sir； it is a bitter parting to me； you
may be sure。〃
Rosa's bosom heaved at these simple words。 She flew to her father；
and cried； 〃Oh； papa！ papa！ you were never cruel before；〃 and hid
her burning face on his shoulder； and then burst out crying； partly
for Christopher； partly because she was now ashamed of herself for
having taken a young man's part so openly。
Mr。 Lusignan looked sadly discomposed at this outburst： she had
taken him by his weak point； he told her so。 〃Now； Rosa；〃 said he；
rather peevishly； 〃you know I hatenoise。〃
Rosa had actually forgotten that trait for a single moment； but；
being reminded of it； she reduced her sobs in the prettiest way；
not to offend a tender parent who could not bear noise。 Under this
homely term； you must know； he included all scenes； disturbances；
rumpuses； passions； and expected all men； women； and things in Kent
Villa to go smoothlyor go elsewhere。
〃Come； young people；〃 said he； 〃don't make a disturbance。 Where's
the grievance？ Have I said he shall never marry you？ Have I
forbidden him to correspond？ or even to call； say twice a year。
All I say is； no marriage； nor contract of marriage； until there is
an income。〃 Then he turned to Christopher。 〃Now if you can't make
an income without her； how could you make one with her； weighed
down by the load of expenses a wife entails？ I know her better
than you do； she is a good girl； but rather luxurious and self…
indulgent。 She is not cut out for a poor man's wife。 And pray
don't go and fancy that nobody loves my child but you。 Mine is not
so hot as yours； of course； but believe me； sir； it is less
selfish。 You would expose