comforted。
And here I must reveal an extraordinary circumstance。
Wyman's treatment was by drugs。
Dr。 Snell's was by drugs。
Dr。 Snell； as you have seen； entirely approved Wyman's treatment。
His own had nothing in common with it。 The Arctic and Antarctic
poles are not farther apart than was his prescription from the
prescription he thoroughly approved。
Amiable science！ In which complete diversity of practice did not
interfere with perfect uniformity of opinion。
All this was kept from Dr。 Staines； and he was entirely occupied in
trying to get a position that might lead to fortune； and satisfy
Mr。 Lusignan。 He called on every friend he had； to inquire where
there was an opening。 He walked miles and miles in the best
quarters of London； looking for an opening； he let it be known in
many quarters that he would give a good premium to any physician
who was about to retire； and would introduce him to his patients。
No： he could hear of nothing。
Then； after a great struggle with himself； he called upon his
uncle； Philip Staines； a retired M。D。； to see if he would do
anything for him。 He left this to the last； for a very good
reason： Dr。 Philip was an irritable old bachelor； who had assisted
most of his married relatives； but； finding no bottom to the well；
had turned rusty and crusty； and now was apt to administer kicks
instead of checks to all who were near and dear to him。 However；
Christopher was the old gentleman's favorite； and was now
desperate； so he mustered courage； and went。 He was graciously
receivedwarmly； indeed。 This gave him great hopes； and he told
his tale。
The old bachelor sided with Mr。 Lusignan。 〃What！〃 said he； 〃do you
want to marry； and propagate pauperism？ I thought you had more
sense。 Confound it all I had just one nephew whose knock at my
street…door did not make me tremble； he was a bachelor and a
thinker； and came for a friendly chat； the rest are married men；
highwaymen； who come to say； 'Stand and deliver；' and now even you
want to join the giddy throng。 Well； don't ask me to have any hand
in it。 You are a man of promise； and you might as well hang a
millstone round your neck as a wife。 Marriage is a greater mistake
than ever now； the women dress more and manage worse。 I met your
cousin Jack the other day； and his wife with seventy pounds on her
back； and next door to paupers。 No； whilst you are a bachelor；
like me； you are my favorite； and down in my will for a lump。 Once
marry； and you join the noble army of foot…pads； leeches； vultures；
paupers； gone coons； and babblers about bratsand I disown you。〃
There was no hope from old Crusty。 Christopher left him； snubbed
and heart…sick。 At last he met a sensible man； who made him see
there was no short cut in that profession。 He must be content to
play the up…hill game； must settle in some good neighborhood；
marry； if possible； since husbands and fathers of families prefer
married physicians； and so be poor at thirty； comfortable at forty；
and rich at fiftyperhaps。
Then Christopher came down to his lodgings at Gravesend； and was
very unhappy； and after some days of misery； he wrote a letter to
Rosa in a moment of impatience； despondency； and passion。
Rosa Lusignan got worse and worse。 The slight but frequent
hemorrhage was a drain upon her system； and weakened her visibly。
She began to lose her rich complexion； and sometimes looked almost
sallow； and a slight circle showed itself under her eyes。 These
symptoms were unfavorable； nevertheless； Dr。 Snell and Mr。 Wyman
accepted them cheerfully； as fresh indications that nothing was
affected but the liver； they multiplied and varied their
prescriptions； the malady ignored those prescriptions； and went
steadily on。 Mr。 Lusignan was terrified but helpless。 Rosa
resigned and reticent。
But it was not in human nature that a girl of this age could always
and at all hours be mistress of herself。 One evening in particular
she stood before the glass in the drawing…room； and looked at
herself a long time with horror。 〃Is that Rosa Lusignan？〃 said
she； aloud； 〃it is her ghost。〃
A deep groan startled her。 She turned； it was her father。 She
thought he was fast asleep； and so indeed he had been； but he was
just awaking； and heard his daughter utter her real mind。 It was a
thunder…clap。 〃Oh； my child！ what shall I do？〃 he cried。
Then Rosa was taken by surprise in her turn。 She spoke out。 〃Send
for a great physician； papa。 Don't let us deceive ourselves； it is
our only chance。〃
〃I will ask Mr。 Wyman to get a physician down from London。〃
〃No； no； that is no use； they will put their heads together； and he
will say whatever Mr。 Wyman tells him。 La！ papa； a clever man like
you； not to see what a cheat that consultation was。 Why； from what
you told me； one can see it was managed so that Dr。 Snell could not
possibly have an opinion of his own。 No； no more echoes of Mr。
Chatterbox。 If you really want to cure me； send for Christopher
Staines。〃
〃Dr。 Staines！ he is very young。〃
〃But he is very clever； and he is not an echo。 He won't care how
many doctors he contradicts when I am in danger。 Papa； it is your
child's one chance。〃
〃I'll try it；〃 said the old man； eagerly。 〃How confident you look！
your color has come back。 It is an inspiration。 Where is he？〃
〃I think by this time he must be at his lodgings in Gravesend。
Send to him to…morrow morning。〃
〃Not I！ I'll go to him to…night。 It is only a mile； and a fine
clear night。〃
〃My own； good； kind papa！ Ah！ well； come what may； I have lived
long enough to be loved。 Yes； dear papa； save me。 I am very young
to die； and he loves me so dearly。〃
The old man bustled away to put on something warmer for his night
walk； and Rosa leaned back； and the tears welled out of her eyes；
now he was gone。
Before she had recovered her composure； a letter was brought her；
and this was the letter from Christopher Staines； alluded to
already。
She took it from the servant with averted head； not wishing it to
be seen she had been crying； and she started at the handwriting； it
seemed such a coincidence that it should come just as she was
sending for him。
MY OWN BELOVED ROSA；I now write to tell you； with a heavy heart；
that all is vain。 I cannot make； nor purchase； a connection；
except as others do； by time and patience。 Being a bachelor is
quite against a young physician。 If I had a wife； and such a wife
as you； I should be sure to get on； you would increase my
connection very soon。 What； then； lies before us？ I see but two
thingsto wait till we are old； and our pockets are filled； but
our hearts chilled or soured； or else to marry at once； and climb
the hill together。 If you love me as I love you； you will be
saving till the battle is over； and I feel I could find energy and
fortitude for both。 Your father； who thinks so much of wealth； can
surely settle something on YOU； and I am not too poor to furnish a
house and start fair。 I am not quite obscuremy lectures have
given me a nameand to you； my own love； I hope I may say that I
know more than many of my elders； thanks to good schools； good
method； a genuine love of my noble profession； and a tendency to
study from my childhood。 Will you not risk something on my
ability？ If not； God help me； for I shall lose you； and what is
life； or fame； or wealth； or any mortal thing to me； without you？
I cannot accept your father's decision； YOU must decide my fate。
You see I have kept away from you until I can do so no more。 All
this time the world to me has seemed to want the sun； and my heart
pines and sickens for one sight of you。
Darling Rosa； pray let me look at your face once more。
When this reaches you I shall be at your gate。 Let me see you；
though but for a moment； and let me hear my fate from no lips but
yours。My own love； your heart…broken lover；
CHRISTOPHER STAINES。
This letter stunned her at first。 Her mind of late had been turned
away from love to such stern realities。 Now she began to be sorry
she had not told him。 〃Poor thing！〃 she said to herself； 〃he
little knows that now all is changed。 Papa； I sometimes think；
would deny me nothing now； it is I who would not marry himto be
buried by him in a month or two。 Poor Christopher！〃
The next moment she started up in dismay。 Why； her father would
miss him。 No； perhaps catch him waiting for her。 What would he
think？ What would Christopher think？that she had shown her papa
his letter。
She rang the bell hard。 The footman came。
〃Send Harriet to me this instant。 Oh； and ask papa to come to me。〃
Then she sat down and dashed off a line to Christopher。 This was
for Harriet to take out to him。 Anything better than for
Christopher to be caught doing what was wrong。
The footman came back first。 〃If you please； miss； master has gone
out。〃
〃Run after himthe road to Gravesend。〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
〃No。 It is no use。 Never mind。〃
〃Yes； miss。〃
Then Harriet came in。 〃Did you want me； miss？〃
〃Yes。 Nonever mind now。〃
She was afraid to do anything for fear of making matters worse。
She went to the window； and stood looking anxiously out； with her
hands working。 Presently she uttered a little scream and shrank
away to the sofa。 She sank down on it； half sitting； half lying；
hid her face in her hands； and waited。
Staines； with a lover's impatience； had been more than an hour at
the gate； or walking up and down close by it； his heart now burning
with hope； now freezing with fear； that she would decline a meeting
on these terms。
At last the postman came； and then he saw he was too soon； but now
in a few minutes Rosa would have his letter； and then he should
soon know whether she would come or not。 He looked up at the
drawing…room windows。 They were full of light。 She was there in
all probability。 Yet she did not come to them。 But why should
she； if she was coming out？
He walked up and down the road。 She did not come。 His heart began
to sicken with doubt。 His head drooped； and perhaps it was owing
to this that he almost ran against a gentleman who was coming the
other way。 The moon shone bright on both faces。
〃Dr