smoothness　with　which　the　transfiguration　was　accomplished　marked
  that　accomplished　actress　the　high…bred　woman　of　the　world。
  Rosa；　better　able　to　estimate　the　change　of　manner　than　Miss　Lucas
  was；　who　did　not　know　how　little　this　Sawny　was　afflicted　with
  misplaced　dignity；　looked　wistfully　and　distressed　at　her。　　Lady
  Cicely　smiled　kindly　in　reply；　rose；　without　seeming　to　hurry；
  catch　her　condescending　to　be　rude　to　Charlotte　Lucas；and　took
  her　departure；　with　a　profound　and　most　gracious　courtesy　to　the
  lady　who　had　driven　her　away。
  Mrs。　Staines　saw　her　down…stairs；　and　said；　ruefully；　〃I　am　afraid
  you　do　not　like　my　friend　Miss　Lucas。　　She　is　a　great　rattle；　but
  so　good…natured　and　clever。〃
  Lady　Cicely　shook　her　head。　　〃Clevaa　people　don't　talk　so　much
  nonsense　before　strangaas。〃
  〃Oh；　dear！〃　said　Rosa。　　〃I　was　in　hopes　you　would　like　her。〃
  〃Do　YOU　like　her？〃
  〃Indeed　I　do；　but　I　shall　not；　if　she　drives　an　older　friend　away。〃
  〃My　dyah；　I'm　not　easily　dwiven　from　those　I　esteem。　　But　you
  undastand　that　is　not　a　woman　for　me　to　mispwonownce　my　'ah's
  befawNOR　FOR　YOU　TO　MAKE　A　BOSOM　FWIEND　OFWOSA　STAINES。〃
  She　said　this　with　a　sudden　maternal　solemnity　and　kindness　that
  contrasted　nobly　and　strangely　with　her　yea…nay　style；　and　Mrs。
  Staines　remembered　the　words　years　after　they　were　spoken。
  It　so　happened　that　after　this　Mrs。　Staines　received　no　more　visits
  from　Lady　Cicely　for　some　time；　and　that　vexed　her。　　She　knew　her
  sex　enough　to　be　aware　that　they　are　very　jealous；　and　she
  permitted　herself　to　think　that　this　high…minded　Sawny　was　jealous
  of　Miss　Lucas。
  This　idea；　founded　on　a　general　estimate　of　her　sex；　was　dispelled
  by　a　few　lines　from　Lady　Cicely；　to　say　her　family　and　herself　were
  in　deep　distress；　her　brother；　Lord　Ayscough；　lay　dying　from　an
  accident。
  Then　Rosa　was　all　remorse；　and　ran　down　to　Staines　to　tell　him。
  She　found　him　with　an　open　letter　in　his　hand。　　It　was　from　Dr。
  Barr；　and　on　the　same　subject。　　The　doctor；　who　had　always　been
  friendly　to　him；　invited　him　to　come　down　at　once　to　Hallowtree
  Hall；　in　Huntingdonshire；　to　a　consultation。　　There　was　a　friendly
  intimation　to　start　at　once；　as　the　patient　might　die　any　moment。
  Husband　and　wife　embraced　each　other　in　a　tumult　of　surprised
  thankfulness。　　A　few　necessaries　were　thrown　into　a　carpet…bag；　and
  Dr。　Staines　was　soon　whirled　into　Huntingdonshire。　　Having
  telegraphed　beforehand；　he　was　met　at　the　station　by　the　earl's
  carriage　and　people；　and　driven　to　the　Hall。　　He　was　received　by　an
  old；　silver…haired　butler；　looking　very　sad；　who　conducted　him　to　a
  boudoir；　and　then　went　and　tapped　gently　at　the　door　of　the
  patient's　room。　　It　was　opened　and　shut　very　softly；　and　Lady
  Cicely；　dressed　in　black；　and　looking　paler　than　ever；　came　into
  the　room。
  〃Dr。　Staines；　I　think？〃
  He　bowed。
  〃Thank　you　for　coming　so　promptly。　　Dr。　Barr　is　gone。　　I　fear　he
  thinkshe　thinksO　Dr。　Stainesno　sign　of　life　but　in　his　poor
  hands；　that　keep　moving　night　and　day。〃
  Staines　looked　very　grave　at　that。　　Lady　Cicely　observed　it；　and；
  faint　at　heart；　could　say　no　more；　but　led　the　way　to　the　sick…
  room。
  There　in　a　spacious　chamber；　lighted　by　a　grand　oriel　window　and
  two　side　windows；　lay　rank；　title；　wealth；　and　youth；　stricken　down
  in　a　moment　by　a　common　accident。　　The　sufferer's　face　was
  bloodless；　his　eyes　fixed；　and　no　signs　of　life　but　in　his　thumbs；
  and　they　kept　working　with　strange　regularity。
  In　the　room　were　a　nurse　and　the　surgeon；　the　neighboring
  physician；　who　had　called　in　Dr。　Barr；　had　just　paid　his　visit　and
  gone　away。
  Lady　Cicely　introduced　Dr。　Staines　and　Mr。　White；　and　then　Dr。
  Staines　stood　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　the　patient　in　profound
  silence。　　Lady　Cicely　scanned　his　countenance　searchingly；　and　was
  struck　with　the　extraordinary　power　and　intensity　it　assumed　in
  examining　the　patient；　but　the　result　was　not　encouraging。　　Dr。
  Staines　looked　grave　and　gloomy。
  At　last；　without　removing　his　eye　from　the　recumbent　figure；　he
  said　quietly　to　Mr。　White；　〃Thrown　from　his　horse；　sir。〃
  〃Horse　fell　on　him；　Dr。　Staines。〃
  〃Any　visible　injuries？〃
  〃Yes。　　Severe　contusions；　and　a　rib　broken　and　pressed　upon　the
  lungs。　　I　replaced　and　set　it。　　Will　you　see？〃
  〃If　you　please。〃
  He　examined　and　felt　the　patient；　and　said　it　had　been　ably　done。
  Then　he　was　silent　and　searching。
  At　last　he　spoke　again。　　〃The　motion　of　the　thumbs　corresponds
  exactly　with　his　pulse。〃
  〃Is　that　so；　sir？〃
  〃It　is。　　The　case　is　without　a　parallel。　　How　long　has　he　been　so？〃
  〃Nearly　a　week。〃
  〃Impossible！〃
  〃It　is　so；　sir。〃
  Lady　Cicely　confirmed　this。
  〃All　the　better；〃　said　Dr。　Staines　upon　reflection。　　〃Well；　sir；〃
  said　he；　〃the　visible　injuries　having　been　ably　relieved；　I　shall
  look　another　way　for　the　cause。〃　　Then；　after　another　pause；　〃I
  must　have　his　head　shaved。〃
  Lady　Cicely　demurred　a　little　to　this；　but　Dr。　Staines　stood　firm；
  and　his　lordship's　valet　undertook　the　job。
  Staines　directed　him　where　to　begin；　and　when　he　had　made　a
  circular　tonsure　on　the　top　of　the　head；　had　it　sponged　with　tepid
  water。
  〃I　thought　so；〃　said　he。　　〃Here　is　the　mischief；〃　and　he　pointed　to
  a　very　slight　indentation　on　the　left　side　of　the　pia　mater。
  〃Observe；〃　said　he；　〃there　is　no　corresponding　indentation　on　the
  other　side。　　Underneath　this　trifling　depression　a　minute　piece　of
  bone　is　doubtless　pressing　on　the　most　sensitive　part　of　the　brain。
  He　must　be　trephined。〃
  Mr。　White's　eyes　sparkled。
  〃You　are　an　hospital　surgeon；　sir？〃
  〃Yes；　Dr。　Staines。　　I　have　no　fear　of　the　operation。〃
  〃Then　I　hand　the　patient　over　to　you。　　The　case　at　present　is
  entirely　surgical。〃
  White　was　driven　home；　and　soon　returned　with　the　requisite
  instruments。　　The　operation　was　neatly　performed；　and　then　Lady
  Cicely　was　called　in。　　She　came　trembling；　her　brother's　fingers
  were　still　working；　but　not　so　regularly。
  〃That　is　only　HABIT；〃　said　Staines；　〃it　will　soon　leave　off；　now
  the　cause　is　gone。〃
  And；　truly　enough；　in　about　five　minutes　the　fingers　became　quiet。
  The　eyes　became　human　next；　and　within　half　an　hour　after　the
  operation　the　earl　gave　a　little　sigh。
  Lady　Cicely　clasped　her　hands；　and　uttered　a　little　cry　of　delight。
  〃This　will　not　do；〃　said　Staines；　〃I　shall　have　you　screaming　when
  he　speaks。〃
  〃Oh；　Dr。　Staines！　will　he　ever　speak？〃
  〃I　think　so；　and　very　soon。　　So　be　on　your　guard。〃
  This　strange　scene　reached　its　climax　soon　after；　by　the　earl
  saying；　quietly；
  〃Are　her　knees　broke；　Tom？〃
  Lady　Cicely　uttered　a　little　scream；　but　instantly　suppressed　it。
  〃No；　my　lord；〃　said　Staines；　smartly；　〃only　rubbed　a　bit。　　You　can
  go　to　sleep；　my　lord。　　I'll　take　care　of　the　mare。〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　his　lordship；　and　composed　himself　to　slumber。
  Dr。　Staines；　at　the　earnest　request　of　Lady　Cicely；　stayed　all
  night；　and　in　course　of　the　day　advised　her　how　to　nurse　the
  patient；　since　both　physician　and　surgeon　had　done　with　him。
  He　said　the　patient's　brain　might　be　irritable　for　some　days；　and
  no　women　in　silk　dresses　or　crinoline；　or　creaking　shoes；　must
  enter　the　room。　　He　told　her　the　nurse　was　evidently　a　clumsy
  woman；　and　would　be　letting　things　fall。　　She　had　better　get　some
  old　soldier　used　to　nursing。　　〃And　don't　whisper　in　the　room；〃　said
  he；　〃nothing　irritates　them　worse；　and　don't　let　anybody　play　a
  piano　within　hearing；　but　in　a　day　or　two　you　may　try　him　with　slow
  and　continuous　music　on　the　flute　or　violin　if　you　like。　　Don't
  touch　his　bed　suddenly；　don't　sit　on　it　or　lean　on　it。　　Dole
  sunlight　into　his　room　by　degrees；　and　when　he　can　bear　it；　drench
  him　with　it。　　Never　mind　what　the　old　school　tell　you。　　About　these
  things　they　know　a　good　deal　less　than　nothing。〃
  Lady　Cicely　received　all　this　like　an　oracle。
  The　cure　was　telegraphed　to　Dr。　Barr；　and　he　was　requested　to
  settle　the　fee。　　He　was　not　the　man　to　undersell　the　profession；
  and　was　jealous　of　nobody；　having　a　large　practice；　and　a　very
  wealthy　wife。　　So　he　telegraphed　back〃Fifty　guineas；　and　a　guinea
  a　mile　from　London。〃
  So；　as　Christopher　Staines　sat　at　an　early　breakfast；　with　the
  carriage　waiting　to　take　him　to　the　train；　two　notes　were　brought
  him　on　a　salver。
  They　were　both　directed　by　Lady　Cicely　Treherne。　　One　of　them
  contained　a　few　kind　and　feeling　words　of　gratitude　and　esteem；　the
  other；　a　check；　drawn　by　the　earl's　steward；　for　one　hundred　and
  thirty　guineas。
  He　bowled　up　to　London；　and　told　it　all　to　Rosa。　　She　sparkled　with
  pride；　affection；　and　joy。
  〃Now；　who　says　you　are　not　a　genius？〃　she　cried。　　〃A　hundred　and
  thirty　guineas　for　one　fee！　　Now；　if　you　love　your　wife　as　she
  loves　youyou　will　set　up　a　brougham。〃
  CHAPTER　VIII。
  Doctor　Staines　begged　leave　to　distinguish；　he　had　not　said　he
  would　set　up　a　carriage　at　the　first　one　hundred　guinea　fee；　but
  only　that　he　would　not　set　up　one　before。　　There　are　misguided
  people　who　would　call　this　logic：　but　Rosa　said　it　was
  equivocating；　and　urged　him　so　warmly　that　at　last　he　burst　out；
  〃Who　can　go　on　forever　saying　'No；'　to　the　only　creature　he
  loves？〃and　caved。　　In　forty…eight　hours　more　a　brougham　waited　at
  Mrs。　Staines's　doo