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smoothness with which the transfiguration was accomplished marked
that accomplished actress the high…bred woman of the world。
Rosa； better able to estimate the change of manner than Miss Lucas
was； who did not know how little this Sawny was afflicted with
misplaced dignity； looked wistfully and distressed at her。 Lady
Cicely smiled kindly in reply； rose； without seeming to hurry；
catch her condescending to be rude to Charlotte Lucas；and took
her departure； with a profound and most gracious courtesy to the
lady who had driven her away。
Mrs。 Staines saw her down…stairs； and said； ruefully； 〃I am afraid
you do not like my friend Miss Lucas。 She is a great rattle； but
so good…natured and clever。〃
Lady Cicely shook her head。 〃Clevaa people don't talk so much
nonsense before strangaas。〃
〃Oh； dear！〃 said Rosa。 〃I was in hopes you would like her。〃
〃Do YOU like her？〃
〃Indeed I do； but I shall not； if she drives an older friend away。〃
〃My dyah； I'm not easily dwiven from those I esteem。 But you
undastand that is not a woman for me to mispwonownce my 'ah's
befawNOR FOR YOU TO MAKE A BOSOM FWIEND OFWOSA STAINES。〃
She said this with a sudden maternal solemnity and kindness that
contrasted nobly and strangely with her yea…nay style； and Mrs。
Staines remembered the words years after they were spoken。
It so happened that after this Mrs。 Staines received no more visits
from Lady Cicely for some time； and that vexed her。 She knew her
sex enough to be aware that they are very jealous； and she
permitted herself to think that this high…minded Sawny was jealous
of Miss Lucas。
This idea； founded on a general estimate of her sex； was dispelled
by a few lines from Lady Cicely； to say her family and herself were
in deep distress； her brother； Lord Ayscough； lay dying from an
accident。
Then Rosa was all remorse； and ran down to Staines to tell him。
She found him with an open letter in his hand。 It was from Dr。
Barr； and on the same subject。 The doctor； who had always been
friendly to him； invited him to come down at once to Hallowtree
Hall； in Huntingdonshire； to a consultation。 There was a friendly
intimation to start at once； as the patient might die any moment。
Husband and wife embraced each other in a tumult of surprised
thankfulness。 A few necessaries were thrown into a carpet…bag； and
Dr。 Staines was soon whirled into Huntingdonshire。 Having
telegraphed beforehand； he was met at the station by the earl's
carriage and people； and driven to the Hall。 He was received by an
old； silver…haired butler； looking very sad； who conducted him to a
boudoir； and then went and tapped gently at the door of the
patient's room。 It was opened and shut very softly； and Lady
Cicely； dressed in black； and looking paler than ever； came into
the room。
〃Dr。 Staines； I think？〃
He bowed。
〃Thank you for coming so promptly。 Dr。 Barr is gone。 I fear he
thinkshe thinksO Dr。 Stainesno sign of life but in his poor
hands； that keep moving night and day。〃
Staines looked very grave at that。 Lady Cicely observed it； and；
faint at heart； could say no more； but led the way to the sick…
room。
There in a spacious chamber； lighted by a grand oriel window and
two side windows； lay rank； title； wealth； and youth； stricken down
in a moment by a common accident。 The sufferer's face was
bloodless； his eyes fixed； and no signs of life but in his thumbs；
and they kept working with strange regularity。
In the room were a nurse and the surgeon； the neighboring
physician； who had called in Dr。 Barr； had just paid his visit and
gone away。
Lady Cicely introduced Dr。 Staines and Mr。 White； and then Dr。
Staines stood and fixed his eyes on the patient in profound
silence。 Lady Cicely scanned his countenance searchingly； and was
struck with the extraordinary power and intensity it assumed in
examining the patient； but the result was not encouraging。 Dr。
Staines looked grave and gloomy。
At last； without removing his eye from the recumbent figure； he
said quietly to Mr。 White； 〃Thrown from his horse； sir。〃
〃Horse fell on him； Dr。 Staines。〃
〃Any visible injuries？〃
〃Yes。 Severe contusions； and a rib broken and pressed upon the
lungs。 I replaced and set it。 Will you see？〃
〃If you please。〃
He examined and felt the patient； and said it had been ably done。
Then he was silent and searching。
At last he spoke again。 〃The motion of the thumbs corresponds
exactly with his pulse。〃
〃Is that so； sir？〃
〃It is。 The case is without a parallel。 How long has he been so？〃
〃Nearly a week。〃
〃Impossible！〃
〃It is so； sir。〃
Lady Cicely confirmed this。
〃All the better；〃 said Dr。 Staines upon reflection。 〃Well； sir；〃
said he； 〃the visible injuries having been ably relieved； I shall
look another way for the cause。〃 Then； after another pause； 〃I
must have his head shaved。〃
Lady Cicely demurred a little to this； but Dr。 Staines stood firm；
and his lordship's valet undertook the job。
Staines directed him where to begin； and when he had made a
circular tonsure on the top of the head； had it sponged with tepid
water。
〃I thought so；〃 said he。 〃Here is the mischief；〃 and he pointed to
a very slight indentation on the left side of the pia mater。
〃Observe；〃 said he； 〃there is no corresponding indentation on the
other side。 Underneath this trifling depression a minute piece of
bone is doubtless pressing on the most sensitive part of the brain。
He must be trephined。〃
Mr。 White's eyes sparkled。
〃You are an hospital surgeon； sir？〃
〃Yes； Dr。 Staines。 I have no fear of the operation。〃
〃Then I hand the patient over to you。 The case at present is
entirely surgical。〃
White was driven home； and soon returned with the requisite
instruments。 The operation was neatly performed； and then Lady
Cicely was called in。 She came trembling； her brother's fingers
were still working； but not so regularly。
〃That is only HABIT；〃 said Staines； 〃it will soon leave off； now
the cause is gone。〃
And； truly enough； in about five minutes the fingers became quiet。
The eyes became human next； and within half an hour after the
operation the earl gave a little sigh。
Lady Cicely clasped her hands； and uttered a little cry of delight。
〃This will not do；〃 said Staines； 〃I shall have you screaming when
he speaks。〃
〃Oh； Dr。 Staines！ will he ever speak？〃
〃I think so； and very soon。 So be on your guard。〃
This strange scene reached its climax soon after； by the earl
saying； quietly；
〃Are her knees broke； Tom？〃
Lady Cicely uttered a little scream； but instantly suppressed it。
〃No； my lord；〃 said Staines； smartly； 〃only rubbed a bit。 You can
go to sleep； my lord。 I'll take care of the mare。〃
〃All right；〃 said his lordship； and composed himself to slumber。
Dr。 Staines； at the earnest request of Lady Cicely； stayed all
night； and in course of the day advised her how to nurse the
patient； since both physician and surgeon had done with him。
He said the patient's brain might be irritable for some days； and
no women in silk dresses or crinoline； or creaking shoes； must
enter the room。 He told her the nurse was evidently a clumsy
woman； and would be letting things fall。 She had better get some
old soldier used to nursing。 〃And don't whisper in the room；〃 said
he； 〃nothing irritates them worse； and don't let anybody play a
piano within hearing； but in a day or two you may try him with slow
and continuous music on the flute or violin if you like。 Don't
touch his bed suddenly； don't sit on it or lean on it。 Dole
sunlight into his room by degrees； and when he can bear it； drench
him with it。 Never mind what the old school tell you。 About these
things they know a good deal less than nothing。〃
Lady Cicely received all this like an oracle。
The cure was telegraphed to Dr。 Barr； and he was requested to
settle the fee。 He was not the man to undersell the profession；
and was jealous of nobody； having a large practice； and a very
wealthy wife。 So he telegraphed back〃Fifty guineas； and a guinea
a mile from London。〃
So； as Christopher Staines sat at an early breakfast； with the
carriage waiting to take him to the train； two notes were brought
him on a salver。
They were both directed by Lady Cicely Treherne。 One of them
contained a few kind and feeling words of gratitude and esteem； the
other； a check； drawn by the earl's steward； for one hundred and
thirty guineas。
He bowled up to London； and told it all to Rosa。 She sparkled with
pride； affection； and joy。
〃Now； who says you are not a genius？〃 she cried。 〃A hundred and
thirty guineas for one fee！ Now； if you love your wife as she
loves youyou will set up a brougham。〃
CHAPTER VIII。
Doctor Staines begged leave to distinguish； he had not said he
would set up a carriage at the first one hundred guinea fee； but
only that he would not set up one before。 There are misguided
people who would call this logic： but Rosa said it was
equivocating； and urged him so warmly that at last he burst out；
〃Who can go on forever saying 'No；' to the only creature he
loves？〃and caved。 In forty…eight hours more a brougham waited at
Mrs。 Staines's doo