visit；　Rosa　tried　to　change　the　conversation。　　Mrs。　Turner
  instantly　got　up；　and　went　away。　　She　could　not　bear　the　sound　of
  the　human　voice；　unless　it　was　talking　about　her　and　her　affairs。
  And　now　Staines　began　to　feel　downright　uneasy。　　Income　was　going
  steadily　out：　not　a　shilling　coming　in。　　The　lame；　the　blind；　and
  the　sick　frequented　his　dispensary；　and　got　his　skill　out　of　him
  gratis；　and　sometimes　a　little　physic；　a　little　wine；　and　other
  things　that　cost　him　money：　but　of　the　patients　that　pay；　not　one
  came　to　his　front　door。
  He　walked　round　and　round　his　little　yard；　like　a　hyena　in　its
  cage；　waiting；　waiting；　waiting：　and　oh！　how　he　envied　the　lot　of
  those　who　can　hunt　for　work；　instead　of　having　to　stay　at　home　and
  wait　for　others　to　come；　whose　will　they　cannot　influence。　　His
  heart　began　to　sicken　with　hope　deferred；　and　dim　forebodings　of
  the　future；　and　he　saw；　with　grief；　that　his　wife　was　getting
  duller　and　duller；　and　that　her　days　dragged　more　heavily；　far　than
  his　own；　for　he　could　study。
  At　last　his　knocker　began　to　show　signs　of　life：　his　visitors　were
  physicians。　　His　lectures　on　〃Diagnosis〃　were　well　known　to　them；
  and　one　after　another　found　him　out。　　They　were　polite；　kind；　even
  friendly；　but　here　it　ended：　these　gentlemen；　of　course；　did　not
  resign　their　patients　to　him；　and　the　inferior　class　of
  practitioners　avoided　his　door　like　a　pestilence。
  Mrs。　Staines；　who　had　always　lived　for　amusement；　could　strike　out
  no　fixed　occupation；　her　time　hung　like　lead；　the　house　was　small；
  and　in　small　houses　the　faults　of　servants　run　against　the
  mistress；　and　she　can't　help　seeing　them；　and　all　the　worse　for
  her。　　It　is　easier　to　keep　things　clean　in　the　country；　and　Rosa
  had　a　high　standard；　which　her　two　servants　could　never　quite
  attain。　　This　annoyed　her；　and　she　began　to　scold　a　little。　　They
  answered　civilly；　but　in　other　respects　remained　imperfect　beings；
  they　laid　out　every　shilling　they　earned　in　finery；　and；　this；　I　am
  ashamed　to　say；　irritated　Mrs。　Staines；　who　was　wearing　out　her
  wedding　garments；　and　had　no　excuse　for　buying；　and　Staines　had
  begged　her　to　be　economical。　　The　more　they　dressed；　the　more　she
  scolded；　they　began　to　answer。　　She　gave　the　cook　warning；　the
  other；　though　not　on　good　terms　with　the　cook；　had　a　gush　of　esprit
  de　corps　directly；　and　gave　Mrs。　Staines　warning。
  Mrs。　Staines　told　her　husband　all　this：　he　took　her　part；　though
  without　openly　interfering；　and　they　had　two　new　servants；　not　so
  good　as　the　last。
  This　worried　Rosa　sadly；　but　it　was　a　flea…bite　to　the　deeper
  nature；　and　more　forecasting　mind　of　her　husband；　still　doomed　to
  pace　that　miserable　yard；　like　a　hyena；　chafing；　seeking；　longing
  for　the　patient　that　never　came。
  Rosa　used　to　look　out　of　his　dressing…room　window；　and　see　him　pace
  the　yard。　　At　first；　tears　of　pity　stood　in　her　eyes。　　By　and　by
  she　got　angry　with　the　world；　and　at　last；　strange　to　say；　a　little
  irritated　with　him。　　It　is　hard　for　a　weak　woman　to　keep　up　all　her
  respect　for　the　man　that　fails。
  One　day；　after　watching　him　a　long　time　unseen；　she　got　excited；
  put　on　her　shawl　and　bonnet；　and　ran　down　to　him：　she　took　him　by
  the　arm：　〃If　you　love　me；　come　out　of　this　prison；　and　walk　with
  me；　we　are　too　miserable。　　I　shall　be　your　first　patient　if　this
  goes　on　much　longer。〃　　He　looked　at　her；　saw　she　was　very　excited；
  and　had　better　be　humored；　so　he　kissed　her　and　just　said；　with　a
  melancholy　smile；　〃How　poor　are　they　that　have　not　patience！〃　　Then
  he　put　on　his　hat；　and　walked　in　the　Park　and　Kensington　Gardens
  with　her。　　The　season　was　just　beginning。　　There　were　carriages
  enough；　and　gay　Amazons　enough；　to　make　poor　Rosa　sigh　more　than
  once。
  Christopher　heard　the　sigh；　and　pressed　her　arm；　and　said；
  〃Courage；　love；　I　hope　to　see　you　among　them　yet。〃
  〃The　sooner　the　better；〃　said　she；　a　little　hardly。
  〃And；　meantime；　which　of　them　all　is　as　beautiful　as　you？〃
  〃All　I　know　is；　they　are　more　attractive。　　Who　looks　at　me；　walking
  tamely　by？〃
  Christopher　said　nothing：　but　these　words　seemed　to　imply　a　thirst
  for　admiration；　and　made　him　a　little　uneasy。
  By　and　by　the　walk　put　the　swift…changing　Rosa　in　spirits；　and　she
  began　to　chat　gayly；　and　hung　prattling　and　beaming　on　her
  husband's　arm；　when　they　entered　Curzon　Street。　　Here；　however；
  occurred　an　incident；　trifling　in　itself；　but　unpleasant。　　Dr。
  Staines　saw　one　of　his　best　Kentish　patients　get　feebly　out　of　his
  carriage；　and　call　on　Dr。　Barr。　　He　started；　and　stopped。　　Rosa
  asked　what　was　the　matter。　　He　told　her。　　She　said；　〃We　ARE
  unfortunate。〃
  Staines　said　nothing；　he　only　quickened　his　pace；　but　he　was
  greatly　disturbed。　　She　expected　him　to　complain　that　she　had
  dragged　him　out；　and　lost　him　that　first　chance。　　But　he　said
  nothing。　　When　they　got　home；　he　asked　the　servant　had　anybody
  called。
  〃No；　Sir。〃
  〃Surely　you　are　mistaken；　Jane。　　A　gentleman　in　a　carriage！〃
  〃Not　a　creature　have　been　since　you　went　out；　sir。〃
  〃Well；　then；　dearest；〃　said　he　sweetly；　〃we　have　nothing　to
  reproach　ourselves　with。〃　　Then　he　knit　his　brow　gloomily。　　〃It　is
  worse　than　I　thought。　　It　seems　even　one's　country　patients　go　to
  another　doctor　when　they　visit　London。　　It　is　hard。　　It　is　hard。〃
  Rosa　leaned　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　and　curled　round　him；　as　one
  she　would　shield　against　the　world's　injustice；　but　she　said
  nothing；　she　was　a　little　frightened　at　his　eye　that　lowered；　and
  his　noble　frame　that　trembled　a　little；　with　ire　suppressed。
  Two　days　after　this；　a　brougham　drove　up　to　the　door；　and　a
  tallish；　fattish；　pasty…faced　man　got　out；　and　inquired　for　Dr。
  Staines。
  He　was　shown　into　the　dining…room；　and　told　Jane　he　had　come　to
  consult　the　doctor。
  Rosa　had　peeped　over　the　stairs；　all　curiosity；　she　glided
  noiselessly　down；　and　with　love's　swift　foot　got　into　the　yard
  before　Jane。　　〃He　is　come！　he　is　come！　　Kiss　me。〃
  Dr。　Staines　kissed　her　first；　and　then　asked　who　was　come。
  〃Oh；　nobody　of　any　consequence。　　ONLY　the　first　patient。　　Kiss　me
  again。〃
  Dr。　Staines　kissed　her　again；　and　then　was　for　going　to　the　first
  patient。
  〃No；〃　said　she；　〃not　yet。　　I　met　a　doctor's　wife　at　Dr。　Mayne's；
  and　she　told　me　things。　　You　must　always　keep　them　waiting；　or　else
  they　think　nothing　of　you。　　Such　a　funny　woman！　　'Treat　'em　like
  dogs；　my　dear；'　she　said。　　But　I　told　her　they　wouldn't　come　to　be
  treated　like　dogs　or　any　other　animal。〃
  〃You　had　better　have　kept　that　to　yourself；　I　think。〃
  〃Oh！　if　you　are　going　to　be　disagreeable；　good…by。　　You　can　go　to
  your　patient；　sir。　　Christie；　dear；　if　he　is　veryvery　illand
  I'm　sure　I　hope　he　isoh；　how　wicked　I　am；　may　I　have　a　new
  bonnet？〃
  〃If　you　really　want　one。〃
  On　the　patient's　card　was　〃Mr。　Pettigrew；　47　Manchester　Square。〃
  As　soon　as　Staines　entered　the　room；　the　first　patient　told　him　who
  and　what　he　was；　a　retired　civilian　from　India；　but　he　had　got　a
  son　there　still；　a　very　rising　man；　wanted　to　be　a　parson；　but　he
  would　not　stand　that；　bad　profession；　don't　rise　by　merit；　very
  hard　to　rise　at　all；no；　India　was　the　place。　　〃As　for　me；　I　made
  my　fortune　there　in　ten　years。　　Obliged　to　leave　it　nowinvalid
  this　many　years；　no　TONE。　　Tried　two　or　three　doctors　in　this
  neighborhood；　heard　there　was　a　new　one；　had　written　a　book　on
  something。　　Thought　I　would　try　HIM。〃
  To　stop　him；　Staines　requested　to　feel　his　pulse；　and　examine　his
  tongue　and　eye。
  〃You　are　suffering　from　indigestion；〃　said　he。　　〃I　will　write　you　a
  prescription；　but　if　you　want　to　get　well；　you　must　simplify　your
  diet　very　much。〃
  While　he　was　writing　the　prescription；　off　went　this　patient's
  tongue；　and　ran　through　the　topics　of　the　day　and　into　his　family
  history　again。
  Staines　listened　politely。　　He　could　afford　it；　having　only　this
  one。
  At　last；　the　first　patient；　having　delivered　an　octavo　volume　of
  nothing；　rose　to　go；　but　it　seems　that　speaking　an　〃infinite　deal
  of　nothing〃　exhausts　the　body；　though　it　does　not　affect　the　mind；
  for　the　first　patient　sank　down　in　his　chair　again。　　〃I　have
  excited　myself　too　muchfeel　rather　faint。〃
  Staines　saw　no　signs　of　coming　syncope；　he　rang　the　bell　quietly；
  and　ordered　a　decanter　of　sherry　to　be　brought；　the　first　patient
  filled　himself　a　glass；　then　another；　and　went　off；　revived；　to
  chatter　elsewhere。　　But　at　the　door　he　said；　〃I　had　always　a
  running　account　with　Dr。　Mivar。　　I　suppose　you　don't　object　to　that
  system。　　Double　fee　the　first　visit；　single　afterwards。〃
  Dr。　Staines　bowed　a　little　stiffly；　he　would　have　preferred　the
  money。　　However；　he　looked　at　the　Blue　Book；　and　found　his　visitor
  lived　at　47　Manchester　Square；　so　that　removed　his　anxiety。
  The　first　patient　called　every　other　day；　chattered　nineteen　to　the
  dozen；　was　exhausted；　drank　two　glasses　of　sherry；　and　drove　away。
  Soon　after　this　a　second　patient　called。　　This　one　was　a　deputy
  patientCollett；　a　retired　butlerkept　a　lodging…house；　and
  waited　at　parties；　he　lived　close　by；　but　had　a　married　daughter　in
  Chelsea。　　Would　the　doctor　visit　her；　and　HE　would　be　responsible？
  Staines　paid　the　woman　a　visit　or　two；　and　treated　her　so
  effectually；　that　soon　her　visits　were　paid