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don't know all my love yet； for I have never been your wife； and I
would not be your jade； that is the only thing I ever refused you。
Trust yourself to me。 Why； you never found happiness with others；
try it with me。 It shall be the best day's work you ever did；
going out in the ship with me。 You don't know how happy a loving
wife can make her husband。 I'll pet you out there as man was never
petted。 And besides； it isn't for life； Dick and me will soon make
a fortune out there； and then I'll bring you home； and see you
spend it any way you like but one。 Oh； how I love you！ do you love
me a little？ I worship the ground you walk on。 I adore every hair
of your head！〃 Her noble arm went round his neck in a moment； and
the grandeur of her passion electrified him so far that he kissed
her affectionately； if not quite so warmly as she did him： and so
it was all settled。 The maid was discharged that night instead of
the morning； and Reginald was to occupy her bed。 Phoebe went up…
stairs with her heart literally on fire； to prepare his sleeping…
room； and so Dick and Reginald had a word。
〃I say； Dick； how long will this voyage be？〃
〃Two months； sir； I am told。〃
〃Please to cast your eyes on this suit of mine。 Don't you think it
is rather seedyto go to Africa with？ Why； I shall disgrace you
on board the ship。 I say； Dick； lend me three sovs。； just to buy a
new suit at the slop…shop。〃
〃Well； brother…in…law；〃 said Dick； 〃I don't see any harm in that。
I'll go and fetch them for you。〃
What does this sensible Dick do but go up…stairs to Phoebe； and
say； 〃He wants three pounds to buy a suit； am I to lend it him？〃
Phoebe was shaking and patting her penitent's pillow。 She dropped
it on the bed in dismay。 〃Oh； Dick； not for all the world！ Why；
if he had three sovereigns； he'd desert me at the water's edge。
Oh； God help me； how I love him！ God forgive me； how I mistrust
him！ Good Dick！ kind Dick！ say we have suits of clothes； and we'll
fit him like a prince； as he ought to be； on board ship； but not a
shilling of money： and； my dear； don't put the weight on ME。 You
understand？〃
〃Ay； mistress； I understand。〃
〃Good Dick！〃
〃Oh； all right！ and then don't you snap this here good； kind Dick's
nose off at a word again。〃
〃Never。 I get wild if anybody threatens him。 Then I'm not myself。
Forgive my hasty tongue。 You know I love you； dear！〃
〃Oh； ay！ you love me well enough。 But seems to me your love is
precious like cold veal； and your love for that chap is hot roast
beef。〃
〃Ha； ha； ha； ha！〃
〃Oh； ye can laugh now； can ye？〃
〃Ha； ha； ha！〃
〃Well； the more of that music； the better for me。〃
〃Yes； dear； but go and tell him。〃
Dick went down； and said； 〃I've got no money to spare； till I get
to the Cape； but Phoebe has got a box full of suits； and I made her
promise to keep it out。 She will dress you like a prince； you may
be sure。〃
〃Oh； that is it； is it？〃 said Reginald dryly。
Dick made no reply。
At nine o'clock they were on board the vessel； at ten she weighed
anchor； and a steam…vessel drew her down the river about thirty
miles； then cast off； and left her to the south…easterly breeze。
Up went sail after sail； she nodded her lofty head； and glided away
for Africa。
Phoebe shed a few natural tears at leaving the shores of Old
England； but they soon dried。 She was demurely happy； watching her
prize； and asking herself had she really secured it； and all in a
few hours？
They had a prosperous voyage： were married at Cape Town； and went
up the country； bag and baggage； looking out for a good bargain in
land。 Reginald was mounted on an English horse； and allowed to
zigzag about； and shoot； and play； while his wife and brother…in…
law marched slowly with their cavalcade。
What with air； exercise； wholesome food； and smiles of welcome； and
delicious petting； this egotist enjoyed himself finely。 He
admitted as much。 Says he； one evening to his wife； who sat by him
for the pleasure of seeing him feed； 〃It sounds absurd； but I never
was so happy in all my life。〃
At that； the celestial expression of her pastoral face； and the
maternal gesture with which she drew her pet's head to her queenly
bosom； was a picture for celibacy to gnash the teeth at。
CHAPTER IX。
During this period； the most remarkable things that happened to Dr。
and Mrs。 Staines were really those which I have related as
connecting them with Phoebe Dale and her brother； to which I will
now add that Dr。 Staines detailed Dick's case in a remarkable
paper； entitled 〃Oedema of the Glottis；〃 and showed how the patient
had been brought back from the grave by tracheotomy and artificial
respiration。 He received a high price for this article。
To tell the truth； he was careful not to admit that it was he who
had opened the windpipe； so the credit of the whole operation was
given to Mr。 Jenkyn； and this gentleman was naturally pleased； and
threw a good many consultation fees in Staines's way。
The Lucases； to his great comfortfor he had an instinctive
aversion to Miss Lucasleft London for Paris in August； and did
not return all the year。
In February he reviewed his year's work and twelve months'
residence in the Bijou。 The pecuniary result was； outgoings； nine
hundred and fifty pounds； income； from fees； two hundred and eighty
pounds； writing； ninety pounds。
He showed these figures to Mrs。 Staines； and asked her if she could
suggest any diminution of expenditure。 Could she do with less
housekeeping money？
〃Oh； impossible！ You cannot think how the servants eat； and they
won't touch our home…made bread。〃
〃The fools！ Why？〃
〃Oh； because they think it costs us less。 Servants seem to me
always to hate the people whose bread they eat。〃
〃More likely it is their vanity。 Nothing that is not paid for
before their eyes seems good enough for them。 Well； dear； the
bakers will revenge us。 But is there any other item we could
reduce？ Dress？〃
〃Dress！ Why； I spend nothing。〃
〃Forty…five pounds this year。〃
〃Well； I shall want none next year。〃
〃Well； then； Rosa； as there is nothing we can reduce； I must write
more； and take more fees； or we shall be in the wrong box。 Only
eight hundred and sixty pounds left of our little capital； and；
mind； we have not another shilling in the world。 One comfort；
there is no debt。 We pay ready money for everything。〃
Rosa colored a little； but said nothing。
Staines did his part nobly。 He read； he wrote； he paced the yard。
He wore his old clothes in the house； he took off his new ones when
he came in。 He was all genius； drudgery； patience。
How Phoebe Dale would have valued him； co…operated with him； and
petted him； if she had had the good luck to be his wife！
The season came back； and with it Miss Lucas； towing a brilliant
bride； Mrs。 Vivian； young； rich； pretty； and gay； with a waist you
could span； and athirst for pleasure。
This lady was the first that ever made Rosa downright jealous。 She
seemed to have everything the female heart could desire； and she
was No。 1 with Miss Lucas this year。 Now； Rosa was No。 1 last
season； and had weakly imagined that was to last forever。 But Miss
Lucas had always a sort of female flame； and it never lasted two
seasons。
Rosa did not care so very much for Miss Lucas before； except as a
convenient friend； but now she was mortified to tears at finding
Miss Lucas made more fuss with another than with her。
This foolish feeling spurred her to attempt a rivalry with Mrs。
Vivian； in the very things where rivalry was hopeless。
Miss Lucas gave both ladies tickets for a flower…show； where all
the great folk were to be； princes and princesses； etc。
〃But I have nothing to wear；〃 sighed Rosa。
〃Then you must get something； and mind it is not pink； please； for
we must not clash in colors。 You know I'm dark； and pink becomes
me。 （The selfish young brute was not half so dark as Rosa。） Mine
is coming from Worth's； in Paris； on purpose。 And this new Madame
Cie； of Regent Street； has such a duck of a bonnet； just come from
Paris。 She wanted to make me one from it； but I told her I would
have none but the pattern bonnetand she knows very well she can't
pass a copy off on me。 Let me drive you up there； and you can see
mine； and order one； if you like it。〃
〃Oh； thank you！ let me just run and speak to my husband first。〃
Staines was writing for the bare life； and a number of German books
about him； slaving to make a few poundswhen in comes the buoyant
figure and beaming face his soul delighted in。
He laid down his work； to enjoy the sunbeam of love。
〃Oh； darling； I've only come in for a minute。 We are going to a
flower…show on the 13th； everybody will be so beautifully dressed
especially that Mrs。 Vivian。 I have got ten yards of beautiful
blue silk in my wardrobe； but that is not enough to make a whole
dresseverything takes so much stuff now。 Madame Cie does not
care to make up dresses unless she finds the silk； but Miss Lucas
says she thinks； to oblige a friend of hers； she would do it for
once in a way。 You know； dear； it would only take a few yards
more； and it would last as a dinner…dress for ev