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strikes into a child of twelve hung about her still； and she came
timidly forward； blushing and sparkling； a curious contrast in
color and mind to her visitor； for Lady Cicely was Languor in
personher hair whitey…brown； her face a fine oval； but almost
colorless； her eyes a pale gray； her neck and hands incomparably
white and beautifula lymphatic young lady； a live antidote to
emotion。 However； Rosa's beauty； timidity； and undisguised
affectionateness were something so different from what she was used
to in the world of fashion； that she actually smiled； and held out
both her hands a little way。 Rosa seized them； and pressed them；
they left her； and remained passive and limp。
〃O Lady Cicely；〃 said Rosa； 〃how kind of you to come。〃
〃How kind of you to send to me；〃 was the polite； but perfectly cool
reply。 〃But how you are gwown； andmay I say impwoved？You la
petite Lusignan！ It is incwedible；〃 lisped her ladyship； very
calmly。
〃I was only a child；〃 said Rosa。 〃You were always so beautiful and
tall； and kind to a little monkey like me。 Oh； pray sit down； Lady
Cicely； and talk of old times。〃
She drew her gently to the sofa； and they sat down hand in hand；
but Lady Cicely's high…bred reserve made her a very poor gossip
about anything that touched herself and her family； so Rosa； though
no egotist； was drawn into talking about herself more than she
would have done had she deliberately planned the conversation。 But
here was an old school…fellow； and a singularly polite listener；
and so out came her love； her genuine happiness； her particular
griefs； and especially the crowning grievance； no society； moped to
death； etc。
Lady Cicely could hardly understand the sentiment in a woman who so
evidently loved her husband。 〃Society！〃 said she； after due
reflection； 〃why； it is a boa。〃 （And here I may as well explain
that Lady Cicely spoke certain words falsely； and others
affectedly； and as for the letter r； she could say it if she made a
hearty effort； but was generally too lazy to throw her leg over
it。） 〃Society！ I'm dwenched to death with it。 If I could only
catch fiah like other women； and love somebody； I would much rather
have a tete…a…tete with him than go teawing about all day and all
night； from one unintwisting cwowd to another。 To be sure；〃 said
she； puzzling the matter out； 〃you are a beauty； and would be more
looked at。〃
〃The idea！ andoh no！ no！ it is not that。 But even in the country
we had always some society。〃
〃Well； dyar； believe me； with your appeawance； you can have as much
society as you please； but it will boa you to death； as it does me；
and then you will long to be left quiet with a sensible man who
loves you。〃
Said Rosa； 〃When shall I have another tete…a…tete with YOU； I
wonder？ Oh； it has been such a comfort to me。 Bless you for
coming。 ThereI wrote to Cecilia； and Emily； and Mrs。 Bosanquet
that is now； and all my sworn friends； and to think of you being
the one to comeyou that never kissed me but once； and an earl's
daughter into the bargain。〃
Ha！ ha！ ha！〃Lady Cicely actually laughed for once in a way； and
did not feel the effort。 〃As for kissing；〃 said she； 〃if I fall
shawt； fawgive me。 I was nevaa vewy demonstwative。〃
〃No； and I have had a lesson。 That Florence ColeFlorence Whiting
that was； you knowwas always kissing me； and she has turned out a
traitor。 I'll tell you all about her。〃 And she did。
Lady Cicely thought Mrs。 Staines a little too unreserved in her
conversation； but was so charmed with her sweetness and freshness
that she kept up the acquaintance； and called on her twice a week
during the season。 At first she wondered that her visits were not
returned； but Rosa let out that she was ashamed to call on foot in
Grosvenor Square。
Lady Cicely shrugged her beautiful shoulders a little at that； but
she continued to do the visiting； and to enjoy the simple； innocent
rapture with which she was received。
This lady's pronunciation of many words was false or affected。 She
said 〃good murning〃 for 〃good morning；〃 and turned other vowels to
diphthongs； and played two or three pranks with her 〃r's。〃 But we
cannot be all imperfection： with her pronunciation her folly came
to a full stop。 I really believe she lisped less nonsense and bad
taste in a year than some of us articulate in a day。 To be sure；
folly is generally uttered in a hurry； and she was too deplorably
lazy to speak fast on any occasion whatever。
One day Mrs。 Staines took her up…stairs； and showed her from the
back window her husband pacing the yard； waiting for patients。
Lady Cicely folded her arms； and contemplated him at first with a
sort of zoological curiosity。 Gentleman pacing back yard； like
hyena； she had never seen before。
At last she opened her mouth in a whisper； 〃What is he doing？〃
〃Waiting for patients。〃
〃Oh！ Waitingforpatients？〃
〃For patients that never come； and never will come。〃
〃Cuwious！ How little I know of life。〃
〃It is that all day； dear； or else writing。〃
Lady Cicely； with her eyes fixed on Staines； made a motion with her
hand that she was attending。
〃And they won't publish a word he writes。〃
〃Poor man！〃
〃Nice for me； is it not？〃
〃I begin to understand；〃 said Lady Cicely quietly； and soon after
retired with her invariable composure。
Meantime； Dr。 Staines； like a good husband； had thrown out
occasional hints to Mrs。 Lucas that he had a wife； beautiful；
accomplished； moped。 More than that； he went so far as to regret
to her that Mrs。 Staines； being in a neighborhood new to him； saw
so little society； the more so； as she was formed to shine； and had
not been used to seclusion。
All these hints fell dead on Mrs。 Lucas。 A handsome and skilful
doctor was welcome to her： his wifethat was quite another matter。
But one day Mrs。 Lucas saw Lady Cicely Treherne's carriage standing
at the door。 The style of the whole turnout impressed her。 She
wondered whose it was。
On another occasion she saw it drive up； and the lady get out。 She
recognized her； and the very next day this parvenue said adroitly；
〃Now； Dr。 Staines； really you can't be allowed to hide your wife in
this way。 （Staines stared。） Why not introduce her to me next
Wednesday？ It is my night。 I would give a dinner expressly for
her； but I don't like to do that while my husband is in Naples。〃
When Staines carried the invitation to his wife； she was delighted；
and kissed him with childish frankness。
But the very next moment she became thoughtful； uneasy； depressed。
〃Oh； dear； I've nothing to wear。〃
〃Oh； nonsense； Rosa。 Your wedding outfit。〃
〃The idea！ I can't go as a bride。 It's not a masquerade。〃
〃But you have other dresses。〃
〃All gone by； more or less； or not fit for such parties as SHE
gives。 A hundred carriages！〃
〃Bring them down； and let me see them。〃
〃Oh yes。〃 And the lady； who had nothing to wear； paraded a very
fair show of dresses。
Staines saw something to admire in all of them。 Mrs。 Staines found
more to object to in each。
At last he fell upon a silver…gray silk； of superlative quality。
〃That！ It is as old as the hills；〃 shrieked Rosa。
〃It looks just out of the shop。 Come； tell the truth； how often
have you worn it？〃
〃I wore it before I was married。〃
〃Ay； but how often？〃
〃Twice。 Three times； I believe。〃
〃I thought so。 It is good as new。〃
〃But I have had it so long by me。 I had it two years before I made
it up。〃
〃What does that matter？ Do you think the people can tell how long
a dress has been lurking in your wardrobe？ This is childish； Rosa。
There； with this dress as good as new； and your beauty； you will be
as much admired； and perhaps hated； as your heart can desire。〃
〃I am afraid not；〃 said Rosa naively。 〃Oh； how I wish I had known
a week ago。〃
〃I am very thankful you did not；〃 said Staines dryly。
At ten o'clock Mrs。 Staines was nearly dressed； at a quarter past
ten she demanded ten minutes； at half…past ten she sought a
reprieve； at a quarter to eleven； being assured that the street was
full of carriages； which had put down at Mrs。 Lucas's； she
consented to emerge； and in a minute they were at the house。
They were shown first into a cloak…room； and then into a tea…room；
and then mounted the stairs。 One servant took their names； and
bawled them to another four yards off； he to another about as near；
and so on； and they edged themselves into the room； not yet too
crowded to move in。
They had not taken many steps； on the chance of finding their
hostess； when a slight buzz arose； and seemed to follow them。
Rosa wondered what that was； but only for a moment； she observed a
tall； stout； aquiline woman fix an eye of bitter； diabolical；
malignant hatred on her； and as she advanced； ugly noses were
cocked disdainfully； and scraggy shoulders elevated at the risk of
sending the bones through the leather； and a titter or two shot
after her。 A woman's instinct gave her the key at once； the sexes
had complimented her at sight； each in their way； the men with
respectful admiration； the women； with their inflammable jealousy
and ready hatred in another of the quality they value most in
thems