第11章

Dr。RhodaGaleneverreflectedmuchinthestreets；theyweretoherafieldofminuteobservation；but，whenshegothomeshesatdownandthoughtoverwhatshehadbeensayinganddoing，andpuzzledoverthecharacterofthemanwhohadrelievedherhungerandelicitedherautobiography。Shepassedhiminreview；settledinhermindthathewasastrongcharacter；amanlyman，whodidnotwastewords；wonderedalittleatthewayhehadmadeherdowhateverhepleased；blushedalittleatthethoughtofhavingbeensocommunicative；yetadmiredthemanforhavingdrawnheroutso；andwonderedwhethersheshouldseehimagain。Shehopedsheshould。Butshedidnotfeelsure。

Shesathalfanhourthus——withonekneeraisedalittle，andherhandsinterlaced——byafire-placewithaburned-outcoalinit；andby-and-byshefelthungryagain。Butshehadnofood，andnomoney。

Shelookedhardatherring，andprofitedalittlebycontactwiththesturdygoodsenseofVizard。

Shesaidtoherself，"Menunderstandoneanother。Ibelievefatherwouldbeangrywithmefornot。"

Thenshelookedtenderlyandwistfullyatthering，andkissedit，andmurmured，"Notto-night。"Youseeshehopedshemighthavealetterinthemorning，andsorespiteherring。

Thenshemadelightofit，andsaidtoherself，"Nomatter；"quidort，dine。""

Butasitwasearlyforbed，andshecouldnotbelongidle，sippingnoknowledge，shetookupthelastgoodGermanworkthatshehadboughtwhenshehadmoney，andproceededtoread。Shehadnocandle，butshehadalucifer-matchortwo，andanoldnewspaper。Withthisshemadelongspills，andlightedone，andreadtwopagesbythatpapertorch，andlightedanotherbeforeitwasout，andthenanother，andsooninsuccession，fightingforknowledgeagainstpoverty，asshehadfoughtforitagainstperfidy。

Whileshewasthusabsorbed，acarriagedrewupatthedoor。Shetooknonoticeofthat；butpresentlytherewasarustlingofsilkonthestairs，andtwovoices，andthenatapatthedoor。"Comein，"saidshe；andZoeenteredjustasthelastspillburnedout。

RhodaGaleroseinadarkroom；butagas-lightoverthewayjustshowedherfigure。"MissGale?"saidZoe，timidly。

"IamMissGale，"saidRhoda，quietly，butfirmly。

"IamMissVizard——thegentleman"ssisterthatyoumetinLeicesterSquareto-day；"andshetookacautioussteptowardher。

Rhoda"scheeksburned。

"MissVizard，"shesaid，"excusemyreceivingyouso；butyoumayhaveheardIamverypoor。Mylastcandleisgone。Butperhapsthelandladywouldlendmeone。Idon"tknow。Sheisverydisobliging，andverycruel。"

"Thensheshallnothavethehonoroflendingyouacandle，"saidZoe，withoneofhergushes。"Now，totellthetruth，"saidshe，alteringtothecheerful，"I"mratherglad。Iwouldrathertalktoyouinthedarkforalittle，justatfirst。MayI?"BythistimeshehadgraduallycreptuptoRhoda。

"Iamafraidyou_must，"_saidRhoda。"ButatleastIcanofferyouaseat。"

Zoesatdown，andtherewasanawkwardsilence。

"Oh，dear，"saidZoe；"Idon"tknowhowtobegin。Iwishyouwouldgivemeyourhand，asIcan"tseeyourface。"

"Withallmyheart:there。"

(Almostinawhisper)"Hehastoldme。"

Rhodaputtheotherhandtoherface，thoughitwassodark。

"Oh，MissGale，how_could_you?Onlythink!Supposeyouhadkilledyourself，ormadeyourselfveryill。Yourmotherwouldhavecomedirectlyandfoundyouso；andonlythinkhowunhappyyouwouldhavemadeher。"

"CanIhaveforgottenmymother?"askedRhodaofherself，butaloud。

"Notwillfully，Iamsure。Butyouknowgeniusesarenotalwayswiseintheselittlethings。Theywantsomegoodhumdrumsoultoadvisetheminthecommonaffairsoflife。Thatwantissuppliedyounow；for_I_amhere——ha-ha!"

"YouarenomorecommonplacethanIam；muchlessnow，I"llbebound。"

"Wewillputthattothetest，"saidZoe，adroitlyenough。_"My_viewofallthisis——thathereisayoungladyinwantofmoney_foratime，_aseverybodyisnowandthen，andthatthesensiblecourseistoborrowsometillyourmothercomesoverwithherapronfulofdollars。Now，Ihavetwentypoundstolend，and，ifyouaresomightysensibleasyousay，youwon"trefusetoborrowit。"

"Oh，MissVizard，youareverygood；butIamafraidandashamedtoborrow。Ineverdidsuchathing。"

"Timeyoubegan，then。_I_have——often。Butitisnousearguing。You_must——_oryouwillgetpoormefinelyscolded。Perhapshewasonhisgoodbehaviorwithyou，beingastranger；butathometheyexpecttobeobeyed。Hewillbesuretosayitwasmystupidity，andthat_he_wouldhavemadeyoudirectly。"

"Dotell!"criedRhoda，surprisedintoanidiom；"asifI"dhavetakenmoneyfrom_him!"_

"Why，ofcoursenot；butbetween_us_itisnothingatall。There:"andsheputthemoneyintoRhoda"shand，andthenheldbothhandandmoneyrathertightlyimprisonedinherlargerpalm，andbegantochatter，soastoleavetheothernoopening。"Oh，blesseddarkness!howeasyitmakesthings!doesitnot?Iamgladtherewasnocandle；weshouldhavebeenfencingandblushingeversolong，andmadesuchafussaboutnothing——and——"

ThisprattlewasinterruptedbyRhodaGaleputtingherrightwristroundZoe"sneck，andlayingherforeheadonhershoulderwithalittlesob。Sothentheybothdistilledtheinevitabledew-drops。

ButasRhodawasnotmuchgiventhatway，shestartedup，andsaid，"Darkness?No；Imustseethefacethathascomeheretohelpme，andnothumiliateme。ThatisthefirstuseI"llmakeofthemoney。Iamafraidyouareratherplain，oryoucouldn"tbesogoodasallthis。"

"No，"saidZoe。"I"mnotreckonedplain；onlyasblackasacoal。"

"Allthemoretomytaste，"saidRhoda，andflewoutoftheroom，andnearlystumbledoverafigureseatedonastepofthestaircase。"Whoareyou?"saidshe，sharply。

"MynameisSeverne。"

"Andwhatareyoudoingthere?"

"WaitingforMissVizard。"

"Comein，then。"

"Shetoldmenot。"

"ThenItellyou_to。_Theidea!MissVizard!"

"Yes!"

"PleasehaveMr。Severnein。Hereheissitting——likeGrief——onthesteps。Iwillsoonbeback。"

Sheflewtothelandlady。"Mrs。Grip，Iwantacandle。"

"Well，theshopsareopen，"saidthewoman，rudely。

"Oh，Ihavenotime。Hereisasovereign。Pleasegivemetwocandlesdirectly，candlesticksandall。"

Thewoman"smannerchangeddirectly。

"Youshallhavethemthismoment，miss，andmyowncandlesticks，whichtheyareplated。"

Shebroughtthem，andadvisedheronlytolightone。"Theydon"tcarrywell，miss，"saidshe。"Theyarewax——orsummat。"

"Thentheyaresummat，"saidMissGale，afterasingleglanceattheircomposition。

"I"llmakeyouanicehotsupper，miss，inhalfanhour，"saidthewoman，maternally，asifsheweregoingto_give_ither。

"No，thankyou。Bringmeatwo-pennyloaf，andascuttleofcoals。"

"La，miss，nomorethanthat——outofasov"?"

"Yes——THECHANGE。"

HavingshownMrs。GripherfatherwasaYankee，shedartedupstairs，withhercandles。Zoecametomeether，andliterallydazzledher。

Rhodastaredatherwithamazementandgrowingrapture。"Oh，youbeauty!"

shecried，anddrankherinfromheadtofoot。

"Well，"saidshe，drawingalongbreath，"Nature，youhaveturnedouta_com-_pletearticlethistime，Ireckon。"Then，asSevernelaughedmerrilyatthis，sheturnedhercandleandhereyesfullonhimverybriskly。Shelookedathimforamoment，withagratifiedeyeathiscomeliness；thenshestarted。"Oh!"shecried。

Hereceivedtheinspectionmerrily，tillsheutteredthatejaculation，thenhestartedalittle，andstaredather。

"Wehavemetbefore，"saidshe，almosttenderly。

"Havewe?"saidhe，puttingonamystifiedair。

Shefixedhim，andlookedhimthroughandthrough。

"You——don"t——remember——me?"askedshe。Then，aftergivinghimplentyoftimetoanswer，"Well，then，Imustbemistaken；"andherwordsseemedtofreezethemselvesandherastheyfell。

Sheturnedherbackonhim，andsaidtoZoe，withagooddealofsweetnessandweight，"Ihavelivedtoseegoodnessandbeautyunited。I

willneverdespairofhumannature。"

ThiswastoopointblankforZoe；sheblushedcrimson，andsaidarchly，"I

thinkitistimeformetorun。Oh，butIforgot；hereismycard。Weareallatthathotel。IfIamsoveryattractive，youwillcomeandseeme——weleavetownverysoon——willyou?"

"Iwill，"saidRhoda。

"Andsinceyoutookmeforanoldacquaintance，Ihopeyouwilltreatmeasone，"saidSeverne，withconsummategraceandassurance。

"Iwill，_sir，"_saidshe，icily，andwithamarvelouscurlofthelipthatdidnotescapehim。

Shelightedthemdownthestairs，gazedafterZoe，andignoredSevernealtogether。

CHAPTERXV。

GOINGhomeinthecarriage，Zoewassilent，butSevernetalkednineteentothedozen。Hadhisobjectbeentohinderhiscompanion"smindfromdwellingtoolongononething，hecouldnothaverattledthediceofsmalltalkmoreindustriously。Hiswordswouldfillpages；histopicswere，thatMissGalewasanextraordinarywoman，buttoomasculineforhistaste，andhadmadeherowntroublessettingupdoctress，whenhertruelinewasgoverness——forboys。Hewasalsoglibandsatiricaluponthatfavoritebutt，afriend。

"Whobuta_soi-disant_woman-haterwouldpickupastrangeviragoandsendhissistertoherwithtwentypounds?I"lltellyouwhatitis，MissVizard——"

HereMissVizard，whohadsatdeadsilentunderaflowofwords，whichismerelyindicatedabove，laidherhandonhisarmtostopthefluxforamoment，andsaid，quietly，_"Do_youknowher?tellme。"

"Knowher!HowshouldI?"

"Ithoughtyoumighthavemether——abroad。"

"Well，itispossible，ofcourse，butveryunlikely。IfIdid，Ineverspoketoher，orIshouldhaverememberedher。_Don"tyouthinkso?"_

"Sheseemedverypositive；andIthinksheisanaccurateperson。Sheseemedquitesurprisedandmortifiedwhenyousaid"No。""

"Well，youknow，ofcourseitisamortifyingthingwhenaladyclaimsagentleman"sacquaintance，andthegentlemandoesn"tadmitit。ButwhatcouldIdo?Icouldn"ttellalieaboutit——couldI?"

"Ofcoursenot。"

"Iwasoffmyguard，andrudish；butyouwerenot。Whattact!whatdelicacy!whathighbreedingandangelicbenevolence!Andsoclever，too!"

"Oh，fie!youlistened!"

"Youleftthedoorajar，andIcouldnotbeartoloseawordthatdroppedfromthoselipssonearme。Yes，Ilistened，andgotsuchalessonasonlyanoble，gentleladycouldgive。Ishallneverforgetyourwomanlyart，andthewayyoucontrivedtomakethebenefactionsoundnothing。"Weareallofusatlowwaterinturns，andforatime，especiallyme，ZoeVizard；sohere"satriflingloan。"Aloan!you"llneverseeashillingofitagain!Nomatter。Whatdoangelswantofmoney?"

"Oh，pray，"saidZoe，"youmakemeblush!"

"ThenIwishtherewasmorelighttoseeit——yes，anangel。DoyouthinkIcan"tseeyouhavedoneallthisforaladyyoudonotreallyapprove?

Fancy——ashedoctor!"

"Mydearfriend，"saidZoe，withalittlejuvenilepomposity，"oneoughtnottojudgeone"sintellectualsuperiorshastily，andthisladyisours"——then，glidingbacktoherself，"anditismynaturetoapprovewhatthoseIloveapprove——whenitisnotdownrightwrong，youknow。"

"Oh，ofcourseitisnotwrong；butisitwise?"

Zoedidnotanswer:thequestionpuzzledher。

"Come，"saidhe，"I"llbefrank，andspeakoutintime。Idon"tthinkyouknowyourbrotherHarrington。Heisveryinflammable。"

"Inflammable!What!Harrington?Well，yes；forI"veseensmokeissuefromhismouth——ha!ha!"

"Ha!ha!I"llpassthatoffformine，somedaywhenyouarenotby。But，seriously，yourbrotheristheverymantomakeafoolofhimselfwithacertainkindofwoman。Hedespisesthewholesex——intheory，andheisveryharduponordinarywomen，anddoesnotappreciatetheirgoodqualities。But，whenhemeetsaremarkablewoman，hecatchesfireliketow。HefellinlovewithMademoiselleKlosking。"

"Oh，notinlove!"

"Ibegyourpardon。Now，thisisbetweenyouandme——hewasinlovewithher，madlyinlove。Hewasonlysavedbyourcomingaway。Ifthosetwohadmetandmadeacquaintance，hewouldhavebeenathermercy。Idon"tsayanyharmwouldhavecomeofit；butIdosaythatwouldhavedependedonthewoman，andnotontheman。"

Zoelookedveryserious，andsaidnothing。Butherlongsilenceshowedhimhiswordshadtold。

"Andnow，"saidhe，afterajudiciouspause，"hereisanotherremarkablewoman；thelastintheworldIshouldfancy，orVizardeither，perhaps，ifhemetherinsociety。Butthewholethingoccursinthewaytocatchhim。Hefindsaladyfaintingwithhunger；hefeedsher；andthatsoftenshishearttoher。Thenshetellshimtheoldstory——victimoftheworld"sinjustice——andheisdeeplyinterestedinher。Shecanseethat；sheisaskeenasarazor。Ifthosetwomeetafewmoretimes，hewillbeathermercy；andthenwon"tshethrowphysictothedogs，andjumpatahusbandsixfeethigh，andtwelvethousandacres!Idon"tstudywomenwithamicroscope，asourwoman-haterdoes，butInoticeafewthingsaboutthem；andoneis，thattheireccentricitiesallgivewayatthefirstofferofmarriage。Ibelievetheyareonlyadoptedindesperation，togetmarried。Whatbeautifulwomanisevereccentric?catchher!shecangetahusbandwithout。ThatdoctresswillprescribeHarringtonawedding-ring；

and，ifheswallowsit，itwillbeherlastprescription。Shewillsendoutforthefamilydoctorafterthat，likeotherwives。"

"Youalarmme，"saidZoe。"Praydonotmakemeunjust。Thisisaladywithafinemind，and，notadesigningwoman。"

"Oh，Idon"tsayshehaslaidanyplans；butthesethingsarealwaysextemporizedthemomentthechancecomes。Youcancountbeforehandontheinstinctofeverywomanwhoiscleverandneedy，andonVizard"speculiarweaknessforwomenoutofthecommon。Heisharduponthewholesex；butheisnomatchforindividuals。Heownedasmuchhimselftomeoneday。

Youarenotangrywithme!"

"No，no。Angrywith_you?"_

"ItisyouIthinkofinallthis。Heisafinefellow，andyouareproudofhim。Iwouldn"thavehimmarrytomortifyyou。Formyself，whilethesisterhonorsmewithherregard，Ireallydon"tmuchcarewhohasthebrotherandtheacres。Ihavethebestofthebargain。"

Zoedisputedthis——inordertomakehimsayitseveraltimes。

Hedid，andproveditintermsthatmadehercheeksredwithmodestyandgratifiedpride；andbythetimetheyhadgothome，hehadflatteredeverythingbutpride，love，andhappinessoutofherheart，poorgirl。

TheworldisliketheLaw，fullofimpliedcontracts:wegiveandtake，withoutopenlyagreeingto。SubtleSevernecountedonthis，andwasnotdisappointed。Zoerewardedhimforhispraises，andherhappiness，byfallingintohisviewsaboutRhodaGale。Onlyshediditinherownlady-likeway，andnotplump。

ShecameuptoHarringtonandkissedhim，andsaid，"Thankyou，dear，forsendingmeonagooderrand。Ifoundherinaverymeanapartment，withoutfireorcandle。"

"Ithoughtasmuch，"saidVizard。

"Didshetakethemoney?"

"Yes——asaloan。"

"Makeanydifficulties?"

"Alittle，dear。"

Severneputinhisword。"Now，ifyouwanttoknowallthetactanddelicacywithwhichitwasdone，youmustcometome；forMissVizardisnotgoingtogiveyouanyideaofit。"

"Bequiet，sir，orIshallbeveryangry。Ilentherthemoney，dear，andhertroublesareatanend；forhermotherwillcertainlyjoinherbeforeshehasspentyourtwentypounds。Oh!andshehadnotpartedwithherring；thatisacomfort，isitnot?"

"Youareagood-heartedgirl，Zoe，"saidVizard，approvingly；then，recoveringhimself，"Butdon"tyoubeblindedbysentiment。Shedeservesagoodhidingfornotpartingwithherring。Whereisthesenseofstarving，withthirtypoundsonyourfinger?"

Zoesmiled，andsaidhiswordswereharderthanhisdeeds。

"Becausehedoesn"tmeanawordhesays，"putinFannyDover，uneasyatthelongcessationofhertongue，forallconversationwithDonCigarhadprovedimpracticable。

"Areyoutherestill，myLadyDisdain?"saidVizard。"Ithoughtyouweregonetobed。"

"Youmightwellthinkthat。Ihadnothingtokeepmeup。"

SaidZoe，rathersmartly，"Oh，yes，youhad——Curiosity；"then，turningtoherbrother，"Inshort，youmakeyourmindquiteeasy。Youhavelentyourmoney，orgivenit，toaworthyperson，butalittlewrong-headed。

However"——withatelegraphicglanceatSeverne——"sheisveryaccomplished；alinguist:sheneedneverbeinwant；andshewillsoonhavehermothertohelpherandadviseher。PerhapsMrs。Galehasanincome；ifnot，MissGale，withherabilities，willeasilyfindaplaceinsomehouseofbusiness，orelsetaketoteaching。IfIwasthem，I

wouldsetupaschool。"

Unanimityisrareinthisworld；butZoe"sgoodsensecarriedeveryvote。

Herprompter，Severne，noddedapproval。Fannysaid，"Why，ofcourse；"andVizard，whoitwasfearedmightproverefractory，assentedevenmorewarmlythantheothers。"Yes，"saidhe，"thatwillbetheendofit。Yourelievemeofaweight。Really，whenshetoldmethatfableoflearningmaltreated，honorableambitionpunished，justicebaffledbytrickery，andvirtuevilified，anddidnotcryliketherestofyou，exceptatherfatherdyinginNewYorkthedayshewonherdiplomaatMontpelier，I

forgavethepoorgirlherpetticoats；indeed，Ilostsightofthem。Sheseemedtomeaverybravelittlefellow，damnablyillused，andIsaid，"Thisisnottobeborne。Hereisafight，andjusticedownunderdirtyfeet。"What，ho!"(roaringatthetopofhisvoice)。

_ZoeandFanny_(screaming，andpinchingNedSevernerightandleft)。

"Ah!ah!"

"Vizardtotherescue!"

"But，withtheevening，coolreflectioncame。Asister，youthful，butsuddenlysagacious(withagleamofsuspicion)，verysuddenlyhasstilledthewavesofromance，andthelipsofbeautyhaveutteredcommonsense。

Shalltheyutteritinvain?Never!Itmaybeyearsbeforetheydoitagain。Wemustnotslightrarephenomena。Zoe_locutaest——_Eccentricitymustbesuppressed。Doctresses，warnedbyalittlestarvation，musttaketheworldasitis，andteachlittlegirlsandboyslanguages，andphysicthemwitharithmeticandtheglobes:thesebedrugsthatdonotkill；

theyonlymakelifeaburden。Idon"tthinkwehavelaidoutourtwentypoundsbadly，Zoe，andthereisanendofit。Theincidentisemptied，astheFrenchsay，and(lightingbed-candles)theladiesretirewiththehonorsofwar。Zoehasutteredgoodsense，andMissDoverhasdonethenextbestthing；shehassaidverylittle——"

MissDovershotincontemptuously，"Ihadnocompanion——"——

"Forwantofafooltospeakhermindto。"

CHAPTERXVI。

INGENIOUSMr。SevernehavingdonehisbesttodetachthepoordoctressfromVizardandhisfamily，inwhichthereaderprobablydiscernshistruemotive，nowbenthismindonslippingbacktoHomburgandlookingafterhismoney。Notthathelikedthejob。Togetholdofit，heknewhemustcondenserascality；hemustplaythepenitent，thelover，andthescoundreloveragain，allinthreedays。

Now，thoughhisegotismwasbrutal，hewashumaninthis，thathehadplentyofgoodnatureskin-deep，andsuperficialsensibilities，whichmadehimshrinkalittlefromthishot-pressedrascalityandbarbarity。

Ontheotherhand，hewasurgedbypoverty，and，laughableasitmayappear，byjealousy。Hehadobservedthatthebestofwomen，iftheyarenotonlyabandonedbyhimtheylove，butalsoflatteredandadoredbyscores，willsometimesyieldtothejointattacksofdesolation，pique，vanity，etc。

Inthisstateoffluctuationhemadeuphismindsofarasthis:hewouldmanagesoastobeabletogo。

Eventhisdemandedcaution。Sohebeganbythrowingout，inaseemingcarelessway，thatheoughttogodownintoHuntingdonshire。

"Ofcourseyouought，"saidVizard。

Noobjectionwastaken，andtheyratherthoughthewouldgonextday。Butthatwasnothisgame。ItwouldneverdotogowhiletheywereinLondon。

Sohekeptpostponing，andsayinghewouldnottearhimselfaway；andatlast，thedaybeforetheyweretogodowntoBarfordshire，heaffectedtoyieldtoaremonstranceofVizard，andsaidhewouldseethemoff，andthenrundowntoHuntingdonshire，lookintohisaffairs，andcrossthecountrytoBarfordshire。

"YoumighttakeHomburgontheway，"saidFanny，outoffun——_her_

fun——notreallymeaningit。

SevernecastapiteouslookatZoe。"Forshame，Fanny!"saidshe。"AndwhyputHomburgintohishead?"

"WhenIhadforgottentherewassuchaplace，"saidMr。Severne，takinghiscuedexterouslyfromZoe，andfeigninginnocentamazement。Zoecoloredwithpleasure。Thiswasatbreakfast。Atafternoonteasomethinghappened。Theladieswereupstairspacking，anoperationonwhichtheycanbestowasmanyhoursasthethingneedsminutes。Oneservantbroughtinthetea；anothercameinsoonafterwithacard，andsaiditwasforMissVizard；buthebroughtittoHarrington。Hereadit:

"MISSRHODAGALE，M。D。"

"SendituptoMissVizard，"saidhe。Themanwasgoingout:hestoppedhim，andsaid，"Youcanshowtheladyinhere，allthesame。"

RhodaGalewasusheredin。Shehadanewgownandbonnet，notshowy，butverynice。Shecoloredfaintlyatsightofthetwogentlemen；butVizardsoonputheratherease。Heshookhandswithher，andsaid，"Sitdown，MissGale；mysisterwillsoonbehere。Ihavesentyourcarduptoher。"

"ShallItellher?"saidSeverne，withthemannerofoneeagertobeagreeabletothevisitor。

"Ifyouplease，sir，"saidMissGale。

Severnewentoutzealously，darteduptoZoe"sroom，knocked，andsaid，"Praycomedown:hereisthatdoctress。"

Meantime，JackwasgivingGillthecard，andGillwasgivingitMarytogivetothelady。ItgottoZoe"sroominaquarterofanhour。

"Anynewsfrommamma?"askedVizard，inhisbluntway。

"Yes，sir。"

"Goodnews?"

"No。MymotherwritesmethatImustnotexpecther。Shehastofightwithadishonestexecutor。Oh，money，money!"

AtthatmomentZoeenteredtheroom，butSevernepacedthelanding。HedidnotcaretofaceMissGale；andeveninthatshortintervaloftimehehadpersuadedZoetoprotectherbrotheragainstthisformidableyounglady，andshortentheinterviewifshecould。

SoZoeenteredtheroombristlingwithdefenseofherbrother。Atsightofher，MissGalerose，andherfeaturesliterallyshonewithpleasure。

ThiswasratherdisarmingtoonesoamiableasZoe，andshewassurprisedintosmilingsweetlyinreturn；butstillherquick，defensiveeyedrankMissGaleonthespot，andsaw，withalarm，theimprovementinherappearance。Shewasveryhealthy，asindeedshedeservedtobe；forshewassingularlytemperate，dranknothingbutwaterandweakteawithoutsugar，andnevereatnordrankexceptathonestmeals。Heryouthandpureconstitutionhadshakenoffallthatpallor，andthepleasureofseeingZoelentheralovelycolor。Zoemicroscopedherinonemoment:notonebeautifulfeatureinherwholeface；eyesfullofintellect，butnotintheleastlove-darting；nose，anaquilinesteadilyreversed；mouth，vastlyexpressive，butlarge；teeth，evenandwhite，butivory，notpearl；chin，ordinary；headsymmetrical，andsetonwithgrace。Imayadd，tocompletethepicture，thatshehadawayofturningthishead，clean，swift，andbirdlike，withoutturningherbody。Thatfamiliaractionofherswasfine——sofulloffireandintelligence。

Zoesettledinonemomentthatshewasdownrightplain，butmightprobablybethatmysteriousandincomprehensibleanddangerouscreature，"agentleman"sbeauty，"which，towomen，meansnobeautyatall，butawitch-likecreature，thatgoesandhitsfoul，andeclipsesrealbeauty——dolls，towit——bysomemysteriousmagic。

"Praysitdown，"saidZoe，formally。Rhodasatdown，andhesitatedamoment。Shefeltafrost。

Vizardhelpedher，"MissGalehasheardfromhermother。"

"Yes，MissVizard，"saidRhoda，timidly；"andverybadnews。Shecannotcomeatpresent；andIamsodistressedatwhatIhavedoneinborrowingthatmoneyofyou；andsee，Ihavespentnearlythreepoundsofitindress；butIhavebroughttherestback。"

Zoelookedatherbrother，perplexed。

"Stuffandnonsense!"saidVizard。"Youwillnottakeit，Zoe。"

"Oh，yes；ifyouplease，do，"saidRhodastilltoZoe。"WhenIborrowedit，IfeltsureIcouldrepayit；butitisnotsonow。Mymothersaysitmaybemonthsbeforeshecancome，andsheforbidsmepositivelytogotoher。Oh!butforthat，I"dputonboy"sclothes，andgoasacommonsailortogettoher。"

Vizardfidgetedonhischair。

"IsupposeImustn"tgoinapassion，"saidhe，dryly。

"Whocares?"saidMissGale，turningherheadsharplyonhiminthewayI

havetriedtodescribe。

"Icare，"saidVizard。"Ifindwrathinterferewithmydigestion。Pleasegoon，andtelluswhatyourmothersays。ShehasmorecommonsensethansomebodyelseIwon"tname——politenessforbids。"

"Well，whodoubtsthat?"saidthelady，withfrankgoodhumor。"Ofcourseshehasmoresensethananyofus。Well，mymothersays——oh，MissVizard!"

"No，shedoesn"tnow。SheneverheardthenameofVizard。"

MissGalewasinnohumorforfeeblejokes。SheturnedhalfangrilyawayfromhimtoZoe。"ShesaysIhavebeenwelleducated，andknowlanguages；

andwearebothunderacloud，andIhadbettergiveupallthoughtofmedicine，andtaketoteaching。"

"Well，MissGale，"saidZoe，"ifyouask_me，_ImustsayIthinkitisgoodadvice。Withallyourgifts，howcanyoufighttheworld?Weareallinterestedinyouhere；anditisacuriousthing，butdoyouknowweagreedtheotherdayyouwouldhavetogiveupmedicine，andfallintosomeoccupationinwhichtherearemanyladiesalreadytokeepyouincountenance。Teachingwasmentioned，Ithink；wasitnot，Harrington?"

RhodaGalesigheddeeply。

"Iamnotsurprised，"saidshe。"Mostwomenoftheworldthinkwithyou。

Butoh，MissVizard，pleasetakeintoaccountallthatIhavedoneandsufferedformedicine!Isallthattogofor_nothing?_Thinkwhatabitterthingitmustbetodo，andthentoundo；tolaborandstudy，andthenknockitalldown——tocutasliceoutofone"slife，outoftheveryheartofit——andthrowitcleanaway。Iknowitishardforyoutoenterintothefeelingsofanyonewholovesscience，andistoldtodesertit。

Butsupposeyouhadloveda_man_youwereproudof——lovedhimforfiveyears——andthentheycametoyouandsaid，"Therearedifficultiesintheway；heisasworthyasever，andhewillneverdesert_you；_butyoumustgive_him_up，andtryandgetatasteforhumanrubbish:itwillonlybefiveyearsofwastedlife，wastedyouth，wastedseed-time，wastedaffection，andthenalongvegetablelifeofunavailingregrets。"Ilovescienceasotherwomenlovemen。IfIamtogiveupscience，whynotdie?

ThenIshallnotfeelmyloss；andIknowhowtodiewithoutpain。Oh，theworldiscruel!Ah!Iamtoounfortunate!Everybodyelseisrewardedforpatience，prudence，temperance，industry，andalifewithhighandalmostholyaims；butIampunished，afflicted，crushedundertheinjusticeoftheday。Donotmakemeanurse-maid。I_won"t_beagoverness；andImustnotdie，becausethatwouldgrievemymother。Havepityonme!havepity!"

Shetrembledallover，andstretchedoutherhandstoZoewithtrulytouchingsupplication。

Zoeforgotherpart，orlostthepowertoplayitwell。Sheturnedherheadawayandwouldnotassent；buttwolargetearsrolledoutofherbeautifuleyes。MissGale，whohadrisenintheardorofherappeal，sawthat，anditsetheroff。Sheleanedherbrowagainstthemantel-piece，notlikeawoman，butabraveboy，thatdoesnotwanttobeseencrying，andshefalteredout，"InFranceIamalearnedphysician；andheretobeahouse-maid!ForIwon"tliveonborrowedmoney。Iamveryunfortunate。"

Severne，whohadlostpatience，cameswiftlyin，andfoundtheminthisposition，andVizardwalkingimpatientlyabouttheroominastateofemotionwhichhewaspleasedtocallanger。

Zoe，inatearfulvoice，said，"Iamunabletoadviseyou。Itisveryhardthatanyonesodeservingshouldbedegraded。"

Vizardburstout，"Itishardertheworldshouldbesofullofconventionalsneaks；andthatIwasnearmakingoneofthem。Thelastthingweeverthinkof，inthispaltryworld，isjustice，anditoughttobethefirst。Well，foronceI"vegotthepowertobejust，andjustI"llbe，byGod!Come，leaveoffsniveling，youtwo，andtakealessoninjustice——fromabeginner:convertsarealwaysthehottest，youknow。MissGale，youshallnotbedrivenoutofscience，andyourlifeandlaborwasted。YoushalldoctorBarfordshire，andteachitEnglish，too，ifanywomancan。Thisistheprogramme。Ifarmtwohundredacres——_vicariously，_ofcourse。NobodyinEnglandhasbrainstodoanything_himself。_Thatweaknessisconfinedtoyourlatefather"scountry，andtheysufferforitbyoutfighting，outlying，outmaneuvering，outbullying，andoutwittinguswheneverweencounterthem。Well，thefarmhouseislarge。Thebailiffhasnochildren。Thereisawingfurnished，andnotoccupied。Youshalllivethere，withtherightofcuttingvegetables，roastingchickens，suckingeggs，andridingacoupleofhorsesofftheirlegs。"

"ButwhatamItodoforallthat?"

"Oh，onlytheworkoftwomen。Youmustkeepmyhouseinperfecthealth。

Theservantshaveatrickofeatingtilltheyburst。Youwillhavetosewthemupagain。Thereareonlysevenhundredpeopleinthevillage。Youmustcurethemall；and，ifyoudo，Ipromiseyoutheirlastingingratitude。Outsidethevillage，youmustmakethempay——_ifyoucan。_

Wewillfindyoupatientsofeverydegree。Butwhetheryouwillevergetanyfeesoutofthem，thisdeponentsayethnot。However，Icananswerforthe_ladies_ofourcounty，thattheywillallcheatyou——iftheycan。"

MissGale"scolorcameandwent，andhereyessparkled。"Oh，howgoodyouare!Isthereahospital?"

"Countyhospital，andinfirmary，withinthreemiles。Finecountryfordisease。Intoxicationprevalent，leadingtoabountifulreturnofaccidents。Ipromiseyouwounds，bruises，andputrefyingsores，andeverythingtomakeyoucomfortable。"

"Oh，don"tlaughatme。IamsoafraidIshall——no，IhopeIshallnotdisgraceyou。And，then，itisagainstthelaw；butIdon"tmindthat。"

"Ofcoursenot。Whatisthelawtoladieswithelevatedviews?By-the-by，whatisthepenalty——sixmonths?"

"Oh，no。Twentypounds。Oh，dear!anothertwentypounds!"

"Makeyourmindeasy。Unjustlawsareadeadletteronasoilsoprimitiveasours。IshalltalktoUxmoorandafewmore，andnomagistratewilleversummonsyou，norjuryconvictyou，inBarfordshire。

YouwillbeassafethereasinUpperCanada。Nowthen——attend。WeleaveforBarfordshireto-morrow。Youwillgodownonthefirstofnextmonth。

Bythattimeallwillbeready:startforTaddington，eleveno"clock。YouwillbemetattheTaddingtonStation，andtakentoyourfarmhouse。Youwillfindafiretendaysold，and，foronceinyourlife，younglady，youwillfindanairedbed；becausemymanHarriswillbehouse-maid，andnotletoneofyourhomicidalsexsetfootinthecrib。"

MissGalelookedfromVizardtohissister，likeapersoninadream。Shewasglowingwithhappiness；butitdidnotspoilher。Shesaid，humblyandtimidly，"IhopeImayproveworthy。"

"Thatis_your_business，"saidVizard，withsupremeindifference；"mineistobejust。Haveacupoftea?"

"Oh，no，thankyou；anditwillbeapartofmydutytoobjecttoafternoontea。ButIamafraidnoneofyouwillmindme。"

Afterafewmorewords，inwhichSeverne，seeingVizardwasinoneofhisironmoods，andimmovableashimofRhodes，affectednowtobeapartisanofthenewarrangement，MissGalerosetoretire。Severneranbeforehertothedoor，andopenedit，astoaqueen。Shebowedformallytohimasshewentout。Whenshewasontheothersidethedoor，sheturnedherheadinhersharp，fieryway，andpointedwithherfingertotheemeraldringonhislittlefinger，averyfineone。"Changedhands，"saidshe:

"itwasonthethirdfingerofyourlefthandwhenwemetlast；"andshepasseddownthestairswithafacehalfturnedtohim，andacruelsmile。

Severnestoodfixed，lookingafterher；coldcreptamonghisbones:hewasrousedbyavoiceabovehimsaying，veryinquisitively，"Whatdoesshesay?"Helookedup，anditwasFannyDoverleaningoverthebalustersofthenextlanding。Shehadevidentlyseenall，andheardsome。Severnehadnomeansofknowinghowmuch。Hisheartbeatrapidly。Yethetoldher，boldly，thatthedoctresshadadmiredhisemeraldring:asiftogivegreaterforcetothisexplanation，hetookitoff，andshowedither，veryamicably。Hecalculatedthatshecouldhardly，atthatdistance，haveheardeverysyllable，and，atthesametime，hewassureshehadseenMissGalepointatthering。

"Hum!"saidFanny；andthatwasallshesaid。

Severnewenttohisownroomtothink。Hewasalmostdizzy。HedreadedthisRhodaGale。Shewasincomprehensible，andheldaswordoverhishead。Tonguesgofastinthecountry。AttheideaofthiskeengirlandZoeVizardsittingunderatreefortwohours，withnothingtodobuttalk，hisbloodrancold。SurelyMissGalemusthatehim。Shewouldnotalwayssparehim。Foroncehecouldnotseehiswayclear。Shouldhetellherhalfthetruth，andthrowhimselfonhermercy?Shouldhemakelovetoher?Orwhatshouldhedo?Onethinghesawclearenough:hemustnotquitthefield。Soonerorlater，allwoulddependonhispresence，histact，andhisreadywit。

Hefeltlikeamanwhocouldnotswim，andwadesindeepeningwater。HemustsendsomebodytoHomburg，orabandonallthoughtofhismoney。Whyabandonit?WhynotreturntoInaKlosking?Hisjudgment，alarmedattheaccumulatingdifficulties，begantointrudeitsvoice。Whatwasheturninghisbackon?Awoman，lovely，loving，andcelebrated，whowasverylikelypiningforhim，andwouldshare，notonlyherwinningsatplaywithhim，butthelargeincomeshewouldmakebyhertalent。Whatwashefollowing?Awomandivinelylovelyandgood，butwhomhecouldnotpossess，or，ifhedid，couldnotholdherlong，andwhoselovemustendinhorror。