Staines　and　Rosa　Lusignan　as　merely　one　incident　in　their　lives；　an
  incident　which；　so　far　from　ending　their　story；　led　by　degrees　to
  more　striking　events　than　any　that　occurred　to　them　before　they
  were　man　and　wife。
  They　returned；　then；　from　their　honey　tour；　and　Staines；　who　was
  methodical　and　kept　a　diary；　made　the　following　entry　therein：
  〃We　have　now　a　life　of　endurance；　and　self…denial；　and　economy；
  before　us；　we　have　to　rent　a　house；　and　furnish　it；　and　live　in　it；
  until　professional　income　shall　flow　in　and　make　all　things　easy：
  and　we　have　two　thousand　five　hundred　pounds　left　to　do　it　with。〃
  They　came　to　a　family　hotel；　and　Dr。　Staines　went　out　directly
  after　breakfast　to　look　for　a　house。　　Acting　on　a　friend's　advice；
  he　visited　the　streets　and　places　north　of　Oxford　Street；　looking
  for　a　good　commodious　house　adapted　to　his　business。　　He　found
  three　or　four　at　fair　rents；　neither　cheap　nor　dear；　the　district
  being　respectable　and　rather　wealthy；　but　no　longer　fashionable。
  He　came　home　with　his　notes；　and　found　Rosa　beaming　in　a　crisp
  peignoir；　and　her　lovely　head　its　natural　size　and　shape；　high…bred
  and　elegant。　　He　sat　down；　and　with　her　hand　in　his　proceeded　to
  describe　the　houses　to　her；　when　a　waiter　threw　open　the　door
  〃Mrs。　John　Cole。〃
  〃Florence！〃　cried　Rosa；　starting　up。
  In　flowed　Florence：　they　both　uttered　a　little　squawk　of　delight；
  and　went　at　each　other　like　two　little　tigresses；　and　kissed　in
  swift　alternation　with　a　singular　ardor；　drawing　their　crests　back
  like　snakes；　and　then　darting　them　forward　and　inflicting　what；　to
  the　male　philosopher　looking　on；　seemed　hard　kisses；　violent
  kisses；　rather　than　the　tender　ones　to　be　expected　from　two　tender
  creatures　embracing　each　other。
  〃Darling；〃　said　Rosa；　〃I　knew　you　would　be　the　first。　　Didn't　I
  tell　you　so；　Christopher？My　husbandmy　darling　Florry！　　Sit
  down；　love；　and　tell　me　everything；　he　has　just　been　looking　out
  for　a　house。　　Ah！　you　have　got　all　that　over　long　ago：　she　has　been
  married　six　months。　　Florry；　you　are　handsomer　than　ever；　and　what
  a　beautiful　dress！　　Ah！　London　is　the　place。　　Real　Brussels；　I
  declare；〃　and　she　took　hold　of　her　friend's　lace　and　gloated　on　it。
  Christopher　smiled　good…naturedly；　and　said；　〃I　dare　say　you　ladies
  have　a　good　deal　to　say　to　each　other。〃
  〃Oceans；〃　said　Rosa。
  〃I　will　go　and　hunt　houses　again。〃
  〃There's　a　good　husband；〃　said　Mrs。　Cole；　as　soon　as　the　door
  closed　on　him；　〃and　such　a　fine　man！　　Why；　he　must　be　six　feet。
  Mine　is　rather　short。　　But　he　is　very　good；　refuses　me　nothing。　　My
  will　is　law。〃
  〃That　is　all　rightyou　are　so　sensible；　but　I　want　governing　a
  little；　and　I　like　itactually。　　Did　the　dressmaker　find　it；
  dear？〃
  〃Oh；　no！　　I　had　it　by　me。　　I　bought　it　at　Brussels　on　our　wedding
  tour：　it　is　dearer　there　than　in　London。〃
  She　said　this　as　if　〃dearer〃　and　〃better〃　were　synonymous。
  〃But　about　your　house；　Rosie　dear？〃
  〃Yes；　darling；　I'll　tell　you　all　about　it。　　I　never　saw　a　moire
  this　shade　before。　　I　don't　care　for　them　in　general；　but　this　is
  so　distingue。〃
  Florence　rewarded　her　with　a　kiss。
  〃The　house；〃　said　Rosa。　　〃Oh；　he　has　seen　one　in　Portman　Street；
  and　one　in　Gloucester　Place。〃
  〃Oh；　that　will　never　do；〃　cried　Mrs。　Cole。　　〃It　is　no　use　being　a
  physician　in　those　out…of…the…way　places。　　He　must　be　in　Mayfair。〃
  〃Must　he？〃
  〃Of　course。　　Besides；　then　my　Johnnie　can　call　him　in　when　they　are
  just　going　to　die。　　Johnnie　is　a　general　prac。；　and　makes　two
  thousand　a　year；　and　he　shall　call　your　one　in；　but　he　must　live　in
  Mayfair。　　Why；　Rosie；　you　would　not　be　such　a　goose　as　to　live　in
  those　placesthey　are　quite　gone　by。〃
  〃I　shall　do　whatever　you　advise　me；　dear。　　Oh；　what　a　comfort　to
  have　a　dear　friend：　and　six　months　married；　and　knows　things。　　How
  richly　it　is　trimmed！　　Why；　it　is　nearly　all　trimmings。〃
  〃That　is　the　fashion。〃
  〃Oh！〃
  And　after　that　big　word　there　was　no　more　to　be　said。
  These　two　ladies　in　their　conversation　gravitated　towards　dress；
  and　fell　flat　on　it　every　half…minute。　　That　great　and　elevating
  topic　held　them　by　a　silken　cord；　but　it　allowed　them　to　flutter
  upwards　into　other　topics；　and　in　those　intervals；　numerous　though
  brief；　the　lady　who　had　been　married　six　months　found　time　to
  instruct　the　matrimonial　novice　with　great　authority；　and　even　a
  shade　of　pomposity。　　〃My　dear；　the　way　ladies　and　gentlemen　get　a
  housein　the　first　place；　you　don't　go　about　yourself　like　that；
  and　you　never　go　to　the　people　themselves；　or　you　are　sure　to　be
  taken　in；　but　to　a　respectable　house…agent。〃
  〃Yes；　dear；　that　must　be　the　best　way；　one　would　think。〃
  〃Of　course　it　is；　and　you　ask　for　a　house　in　Mayfair；　and　he　shows
  you　several；　and　recommends　you　the　best；　and　sees　you　are　not
  cheated。〃
  〃Thank　you；　love；〃　said　Rosa；　〃now　I　know　what　to　do；　I'll　not
  forget　a　word。　　And　the　train　so　beautifully　shaped！　　Ah！　it　is
  only　in　London　or　Paris　they　can　make　a　dress　flow　behind　like
  that；〃　etc。；　etc。
  Dr。　Staines　came　back　to　dinner　in　good　spirits；　he　had　found　a
  house　in　Harewood　Square；　good　entrance　hall；　where　his　gratuitous
  patients　might　sit　on　benches；　good　dining…room　where　his　superior
  patients　might　wait；　and　good　library；　to　be　used　as　a　consulting…
  room。　　Rent　only　eighty…five　pounds　per　annum。
  But　Rosa　told　him　that　would　never　do；　a　physician　must　be　in　the
  fashionable　part　of　the　town。
  〃Eventually；〃　said　Christopher；　〃but　surely　at　first　startingand
  you　know　they　say　little　boats　should　not　go　too　far　from　shore。〃
  Then　Rosa　repeated　all　her　friend's　arguments；　and　seemed　so
  unhappy　at　the　idea　of　not　living　near　her；　that　Staines；　who　had
  not　yet　said　the　hard　word　〃no〃　to　her；　gave　in；　consoling　his
  prudence　with　the　reflection　that；　after　all；　Mr。　Cole　could　put
  many　a　guinea　in　his　way；　for　Mr。　Cole　was　middle…aged；though　his
  wife　was　young；and　had　really　a　very　large　practice。
  So　next　day；　the　newly…wedded　pair　called　on　a　house…agent　in
  Mayfair；　and　his　son　and　partner　went　with　them　to　several　places。
  The　rents　of　houses　equal　to　that　in　Harewood　Square　were　three
  hundred　pounds　a　year　at　least；　and　a　premium　to　boot。
  Christopher　told　him　these　were　quite　beyond　the　mark。　　〃Very
  well；〃　said　the　agent。　　〃Then　I'll　show　you　a　Bijou。〃
  Rosa　clapped　her　hands。　　〃That　is　the　thing　for　us。　　We　don't　want
  a　large　house；　only　a　beautiful　one；　and　in　Mayfair。〃
  〃Then　the　Bijou　will　be　sure　to　suit　you。〃
  He　took　them　to　the　Bijou。
  The　Bijou　had　a　small　dining…room　with　one　very　large　window　in　two
  sheets　of　plate　glass；　and　a　projecting　balcony　full　of　flowers；　a
  still　smaller　library；　which　opened　on　a　square　yard　enclosed。
  Here　were　a　great　many　pots；　with　flowers　dead　or　dying　from
  neglect。　　On　the　first　floor　a　fair…sized　drawing…room；　and　a　tiny
  one　at　the　back：　on　the　second　floor；　one　good　bedroom；　and　a
  dressing…room；　or　little　bedroom：　three　garrets　above。
  Rosa　was　in　ecstasies。　　〃It　is　a　nest；〃　said　she。
  〃It　is　a　bank…note；〃　said　the　agent；　stimulating　equal　enthusiasm；
  after　his　fashion。　　〃You　can　always　sell　the　lease　again　for　more
  money。〃
  Christopher　kept　cool。　　〃I　don't　want　a　house　to　sell；　but　to　live
  in；　and　do　my　business；　I　am　a　physician：　now　the　drawing…room　is
  built　over　the　entrance　to　a　mews；　the　back　rooms　all　look　into　a
  mews：　we　shall　have　the　eternal　noise　and　smell　of　a　mews。　　My
  wife's　rest　will　be　broken　by　the　carriages　rolling　in　and　out。
  The　hall　is　fearfully　small　and　stuffy。　　The　rent　is　abominably
  high；　and　what　is　the　premium　for；　I　wonder？〃
  〃Always　a　premium　in　Mayfair；　sir。　　A　lease　is　property　here：　the
  gentleman　is　not　acquainted　with　this　part；　madam。〃
  〃Oh；　yes；　he　is；〃　said　Rosa；　as　boldly　as　a　six　years'　wife：　〃he
  knows　everything。〃
  〃Then　he　knows　that　a　house　of　this　kind　at　a　hundred　and　thirty
  pounds　a　year　in　Mayfair　is　a　bank…note。〃
  Staines　turned　to　Rosa。　　〃The　poor　patients；　where　am　I　to　receive
  them？〃
  〃In　the　stable；〃　suggested　the　house　agent。
  〃Oh！〃　said　Rosa；　shocked。
  〃Well；　then；　the　coach…house。　　Why；　there's　plenty　of　room　for　a
  brougham；　and　one　horse；　and　fifty　poor　patients　at　a　time：　beggars
  musn't　be　choosers；　if　you　give　them　physic　gratis；　that　is　enough：
  you　ain't　bound　to　find　'em　a　palace　to　sit　down　in；　and　hot　coffee
  and　rump　steaks　all　round；　doctor。〃
  This　tickled　Rosa　so　that　she　burst　out　laughing；　and　thenceforward
  giggled　at　intervals；　wit　of　this　refined　nature　having　all　the
  charm　of　novelty　for　her。
  They　inspected　the　stables；　which　were　indeed　the　one　redeeming
  feature　in　the　horrid　little　Bijou；　and　then　the　agent　would　show
  them　the　kitchen；　and　the　new　stove。　　He　expatiated　on　this　to　Mrs。
  Staines。　　〃Cook　a　dinner　for　thirty　people；　madam。〃
  〃And　there's　room　for　them　to　eat　itin　the　road；〃　said　Staines。
  The　agent　reminded　him　there　were　larger　places　to　be　had；　by　a
  very　simple　process；　viz。；　paying　for　them。
  Staines　thought　of　the　large；　comfortable　house　in　Harewood　Square。
  〃One　hundred　and　thirty　pounds　a　year　for　this　poky　little　hole？〃
  he　groaned。
  〃Why；　it　is　nothing　at　all　for　a　Bijou。〃
  〃But　it　is　too　much　for　a　bandbox。〃
  Rosa　laid　her　hand　on　h