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visit； Rosa tried to change the conversation。 Mrs。 Turner
instantly got up； and went away。 She could not bear the sound of
the human voice； unless it was talking about her and her affairs。
And now Staines began to feel downright uneasy。 Income was going
steadily out： not a shilling coming in。 The lame； the blind； and
the sick frequented his dispensary； and got his skill out of him
gratis； and sometimes a little physic； a little wine； and other
things that cost him money： but of the patients that pay； not one
came to his front door。
He walked round and round his little yard； like a hyena in its
cage； waiting； waiting； waiting： and oh！ how he envied the lot of
those who can hunt for work； instead of having to stay at home and
wait for others to come； whose will they cannot influence。 His
heart began to sicken with hope deferred； and dim forebodings of
the future； and he saw； with grief； that his wife was getting
duller and duller； and that her days dragged more heavily； far than
his own； for he could study。
At last his knocker began to show signs of life： his visitors were
physicians。 His lectures on 〃Diagnosis〃 were well known to them；
and one after another found him out。 They were polite； kind； even
friendly； but here it ended： these gentlemen； of course； did not
resign their patients to him； and the inferior class of
practitioners avoided his door like a pestilence。
Mrs。 Staines； who had always lived for amusement； could strike out
no fixed occupation； her time hung like lead； the house was small；
and in small houses the faults of servants run against the
mistress； and she can't help seeing them； and all the worse for
her。 It is easier to keep things clean in the country； and Rosa
had a high standard； which her two servants could never quite
attain。 This annoyed her； and she began to scold a little。 They
answered civilly； but in other respects remained imperfect beings；
they laid out every shilling they earned in finery； and； this； I am
ashamed to say； irritated Mrs。 Staines； who was wearing out her
wedding garments； and had no excuse for buying； and Staines had
begged her to be economical。 The more they dressed； the more she
scolded； they began to answer。 She gave the cook warning； the
other； though not on good terms with the cook； had a gush of esprit
de corps directly； and gave Mrs。 Staines warning。
Mrs。 Staines told her husband all this： he took her part； though
without openly interfering； and they had two new servants； not so
good as the last。
This worried Rosa sadly； but it was a flea…bite to the deeper
nature； and more forecasting mind of her husband； still doomed to
pace that miserable yard； like a hyena； chafing； seeking； longing
for the patient that never came。
Rosa used to look out of his dressing…room window； and see him pace
the yard。 At first； tears of pity stood in her eyes。 By and by
she got angry with the world； and at last； strange to say； a little
irritated with him。 It is hard for a weak woman to keep up all her
respect for the man that fails。
One day； after watching him a long time unseen； she got excited；
put on her shawl and bonnet； and ran down to him： she took him by
the arm： 〃If you love me； come out of this prison； and walk with
me； we are too miserable。 I shall be your first patient if this
goes on much longer。〃 He looked at her； saw she was very excited；
and had better be humored； so he kissed her and just said； with a
melancholy smile； 〃How poor are they that have not patience！〃 Then
he put on his hat； and walked in the Park and Kensington Gardens
with her。 The season was just beginning。 There were carriages
enough； and gay Amazons enough； to make poor Rosa sigh more than
once。
Christopher heard the sigh； and pressed her arm； and said；
〃Courage； love； I hope to see you among them yet。〃
〃The sooner the better；〃 said she； a little hardly。
〃And； meantime； which of them all is as beautiful as you？〃
〃All I know is； they are more attractive。 Who looks at me； walking
tamely by？〃
Christopher said nothing： but these words seemed to imply a thirst
for admiration； and made him a little uneasy。
By and by the walk put the swift…changing Rosa in spirits； and she
began to chat gayly； and hung prattling and beaming on her
husband's arm； when they entered Curzon Street。 Here； however；
occurred an incident； trifling in itself； but unpleasant。 Dr。
Staines saw one of his best Kentish patients get feebly out of his
carriage； and call on Dr。 Barr。 He started； and stopped。 Rosa
asked what was the matter。 He told her。 She said； 〃We ARE
unfortunate。〃
Staines said nothing； he only quickened his pace； but he was
greatly disturbed。 She expected him to complain that she had
dragged him out； and lost him that first chance。 But he said
nothing。 When they got home； he asked the servant had anybody
called。
〃No； Sir。〃
〃Surely you are mistaken； Jane。 A gentleman in a carriage！〃
〃Not a creature have been since you went out； sir。〃
〃Well； then； dearest；〃 said he sweetly； 〃we have nothing to
reproach ourselves with。〃 Then he knit his brow gloomily。 〃It is
worse than I thought。 It seems even one's country patients go to
another doctor when they visit London。 It is hard。 It is hard。〃
Rosa leaned her head on his shoulder； and curled round him； as one
she would shield against the world's injustice； but she said
nothing； she was a little frightened at his eye that lowered； and
his noble frame that trembled a little； with ire suppressed。
Two days after this； a brougham drove up to the door； and a
tallish； fattish； pasty…faced man got out； and inquired for Dr。
Staines。
He was shown into the dining…room； and told Jane he had come to
consult the doctor。
Rosa had peeped over the stairs； all curiosity； she glided
noiselessly down； and with love's swift foot got into the yard
before Jane。 〃He is come！ he is come！ Kiss me。〃
Dr。 Staines kissed her first； and then asked who was come。
〃Oh； nobody of any consequence。 ONLY the first patient。 Kiss me
again。〃
Dr。 Staines kissed her again； and then was for going to the first
patient。
〃No；〃 said she； 〃not yet。 I met a doctor's wife at Dr。 Mayne's；
and she told me things。 You must always keep them waiting； or else
they think nothing of you。 Such a funny woman！ 'Treat 'em like
dogs； my dear；' she said。 But I told her they wouldn't come to be
treated like dogs or any other animal。〃
〃You had better have kept that to yourself； I think。〃
〃Oh！ if you are going to be disagreeable； good…by。 You can go to
your patient； sir。 Christie； dear； if he is veryvery illand
I'm sure I hope he isoh； how wicked I am； may I have a new
bonnet？〃
〃If you really want one。〃
On the patient's card was 〃Mr。 Pettigrew； 47 Manchester Square。〃
As soon as Staines entered the room； the first patient told him who
and what he was； a retired civilian from India； but he had got a
son there still； a very rising man； wanted to be a parson； but he
would not stand that； bad profession； don't rise by merit； very
hard to rise at all；no； India was the place。 〃As for me； I made
my fortune there in ten years。 Obliged to leave it nowinvalid
this many years； no TONE。 Tried two or three doctors in this
neighborhood； heard there was a new one； had written a book on
something。 Thought I would try HIM。〃
To stop him； Staines requested to feel his pulse； and examine his
tongue and eye。
〃You are suffering from indigestion；〃 said he。 〃I will write you a
prescription； but if you want to get well； you must simplify your
diet very much。〃
While he was writing the prescription； off went this patient's
tongue； and ran through the topics of the day and into his family
history again。
Staines listened politely。 He could afford it； having only this
one。
At last； the first patient； having delivered an octavo volume of
nothing； rose to go； but it seems that speaking an 〃infinite deal
of nothing〃 exhausts the body； though it does not affect the mind；
for the first patient sank down in his chair again。 〃I have
excited myself too muchfeel rather faint。〃
Staines saw no signs of coming syncope； he rang the bell quietly；
and ordered a decanter of sherry to be brought； the first patient
filled himself a glass； then another； and went off； revived； to
chatter elsewhere。 But at the door he said； 〃I had always a
running account with Dr。 Mivar。 I suppose you don't object to that
system。 Double fee the first visit； single afterwards。〃
Dr。 Staines bowed a little stiffly； he would have preferred the
money。 However； he looked at the Blue Book； and found his visitor
lived at 47 Manchester Square； so that removed his anxiety。
The first patient called every other day； chattered nineteen to the
dozen； was exhausted； drank two glasses of sherry； and drove away。
Soon after this a second patient called。 This one was a deputy
patientCollett； a retired butlerkept a lodging…house； and
waited at parties； he lived close by； but had a married daughter in
Chelsea。 Would the doctor visit her； and HE would be responsible？
Staines paid the woman a visit or two； and treated her so
effectually； that soon her visits were paid