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Staines paid the woman a visit or two； and treated her so
effectually； that soon her visits were paid to him。 She was cured；
and Staines； who by this time wanted to see money； sent to Collett。
Collett did not answer。
Staines wrote warmly。
Collett dead silent。
Staines employed a solicitor。
Collett said he had recommended the patient； that was all。 He had
never said he would pay her debts。 That was her husband's
business。
Now her husband was the mate of a ship； would not be in England for
eighteen months。
The woman； visited by lawyer's clerk； cried bitterly； and said she
and her children had scarcely enough to eat。
Lawyer advised Staines to abandon the case； and pay him two pounds
fifteen shillings expenses。 He did so。
〃This is damnable；〃 said he。 〃I must get it out of Pettigrew； by…
the…by； he has not been here this two days。〃
He waited another day for Pettigrew； and then wrote to him。 No
answer。 Called。 Pettigrew gone abroad。 House in Manchester
Square to let。
Staines went to the house…agent with his tale。 Agent was
impenetrable at first； but； at last； won by the doctor's manner and
his unhappiness； referred him to Pettigrew's solicitor； the
solicitor was a respectable man； and said he would forward the
claim to Pettigrew in Paris。
But by this time Pettigrew was chattering and guzzling in Berlin；
and thence he got to St。 Petersburg。 In that stronghold of
gluttony； he gormandized more than ever； and； being unable to talk
it off his stomach； as in other cities； had apoplexy； and died。
But long before this Staines saw his money was as irrecoverable as
his sherry； and he said to Rosa； 〃I wonder whether I shall ever
live to curse the human race？〃
〃Heaven forbid！〃 said Rosa。 〃Oh； they use you cruelly； my poor；
poor Christie！〃
Thus for months the young doctor's patients bled him； and that was
all。
And Rosa got more and more moped at being in the house so much； and
pestered Christopher to take her out； and he declined： and； being a
man hard to beat； took to writing on medical subjects； in hopes of
getting some money from the various medical and scientific
publications； but he found it as hard to get the wedge in there as
to get patients。
At last Rosa's remonstrances began to rise into something that
sounded like reproaches。 One Sunday she came to him in her bonnet；
and interrupted his studies； to say he might as well lay down the
pen； and talk。 Nobody would publish anything he wrote。
Christopher frowned； but contained himself； and laid down the pen。
〃I might as well not be married at all as be a doctor's wife。 You
are never seen out with me； not even to church。 Do behave like a
Christian； and come to church with me now。〃
Dr。 Staines shook his head。
〃Why； I wouldn't miss church for all the world。 Any excitement is
better than always moping。 Come over the water with me。 The time
Jane and I went； the clergyman read a paper that Mr。 Brown had
fallen down in a fit。 There was such a rush directly； and I'm sure
fifty ladies went outfancy； all Mrs。 Browns！ Wasn't that fun？〃
〃Fun？ I don't see it。 Well； Rosa； your mind is evidently better
adapted to diversion than mine is。 Go you to church； love； and
I'll continue my studies。〃
〃Then all I can say is； I wish I was back in my father's house。
Husband！ friend！ companion！I have none。〃
Then she burst out crying violently； and； being shocked at what she
had said； and at the agony it had brought into her husband's face；
she went off into hysterics； and as his heart would not let him
bellow at her； or empty a bucket on her as he would on another
patient； she had a good long bout of them： and got her way； for she
broke up his studies for that day； at all events。
Even after the hysterics were got under； she continued to moan and
sigh very prettily； with her lovely； languid head pillowed on her
husband's arm； in a word； though the hysterics were real； yet this
innocent young person had the presence of mind to postpone entire
convalescence； and lay herself out to be petted all day。 But fate
willed it otherwise： while she was sighing and moaning； came to the
door a scurrying of feet； and then a sharp； persistent ringing that
meant something。 The moaner cocked eye and ear； and said； in her
every…day voice； which； coming so suddenly； sounded very droll；
〃What is that； I wonder？〃
Jane hurried to the street…door； and Rosa recovered by magic； and；
preferring gossip to hysterics； in an almost gleeful whisper；
ordered Christopher to open the door of the study。 The Bijou was
so small that the following dialogue rang in their ears：
A boy in buttons gasped out； 〃Oh； if you please； will you ast the
doctor to come round directly； there's a haccident。〃
〃La； bless me！〃 said Jane； and never budged。
〃Yes； miss。 It's our missus's little girl fallen right off an
i…chair； and cut her head dreadful； and smothered in blood。〃
〃La； to be sure！〃 And she waited steadily for more。
〃Ay； and missus she fainted right off； and I've been to the regler
doctor； which he's out； and Sarah； the housemaid； said I had better
come here； you was only just set up； she said； you wouldn't have so
much to do； says she。〃
〃That is all SHE knows；〃 said Jane。 〃Why； our masterthey pulls
him in pieces which is to have him fust。〃
〃What an awful liar！ Oh； you good girl！〃 whispered Dr。 Staines and
Rosa in one breath。
〃Ah； well；〃 said Buttons； 〃any way； Sarah says she knows you are
clever； 'cos her little girl as lives with her mother； and calls
Sarah aunt； has bin to your 'spensary with ringworm； and you cured
her right off。〃
〃Ay； and a good many more；〃 said Jane； loftily。 She was a
housemaid of imagination； and while Staines was putting some lint
and an instrument case into his pocket； she proceeded to relate a
number of miraculous cures。 Dr。 Staines interrupted them by
suddenly emerging； and inviting Buttons to take him to the house。
Mrs。 Staines was so pleased with Jane for cracking up the doctor；
that she gave her five shillings； and； after that； used to talk to
her a great deal more than to the cook； which judicious conduct
presently set all three by the ears。
Buttons took the doctor to a fine house in the same street； and
told him his mistress's name on the wayMrs。 Lucas。 He was taken
up to the nursery； and found Mrs。 Lucas seated； crying and
lamenting； and a woman holding a little girl of about seven； whose
brow had been cut open by the fender； on which she had fallen from
a chair； it looked very ugly； and was even now bleeding。
Dr。 Staines lost no time； he examined the wound keenly； and then
said kindly to Mrs。 Lucas； 〃I am happy to tell you it is not
serious。〃 He then asked for a large basin and some tepid water；
and bathed it so softly and soothingly that the child soon became
composed； and the mother discovered the artist at once。 He
compressed the wound； and explained to Mrs。 Lucas that the
principal thing really was to avoid an ugly scar。 〃There is no
danger；〃 said he。 He then bound the wound neatly up； and had the
girl put to bed。 〃You will not wake her at any particular hour；
nurse。 Let her sleep。 Have a little strong beef…tea ready； and
give it her at any hour； night or day； she asks for it。 But do not
force it on her； or you will do her more harm than good。 She had
better sleep before she eats。〃
Mrs。 Lucas begged him to come every morning； and； as he was going；
she shook hands with him； and the soft palm deposited a hard
substance wrapped in paper。 He took it with professional gravity
and seeming unconsciousness； but； once outside the house； went home
on wings。 He ran up to the drawing…room； and found his wife
seated； and playing at reading。 He threw himself on his knees； and
the fee into her lap； and； while she unfolded the paper with an
ejaculation of pleasure； he said； 〃Darling； the first real patient
the first real fee。 It is yours to buy the new bonnet。〃
〃Oh； I'm so glad！〃 said she； with her eyes glistening。 〃But I'm
afraid one can't get a bonnet fit to wearfor a guinea。〃
Dr。 Staines visited his little patient every day； and received his
guinea。 Mrs。 Lucas also called him in for her own little ailments；
and they were the best possible kind of ailments： for； being
imaginary； there was no limit to them。
Then did Mrs。 Staines turn jealous of her husband。 〃They never ask
me；〃 said she； 〃and I am moped to death。〃
〃It is hard；〃 said Christopher； sadly。 〃But have a little
patience。 Society will come to you long before practice comes to
me。〃
About two o'clock one afternoon a carriage and pair drove up； and a
gorgeous footman delivered a card〃Lady Cicely Treherne。〃
Of course Mrs。 Staines was at home； and only withheld by propriety
from bounding into the passage to meet her school…fellow。 However；
she composed herself in the drawing…room； and presently the door
was opened； and a very tall young woman； richly but not gayly
dressed； drifted into the room； and stood there a statue of
composure。
Rosa had risen to fly to her； but the reverence a girl of eighteen
strikes into a child of twelve hung about her still； and she came
timidly forward； blushing and sparkling；