下载辰思小说免费APP
"Noonecaneverthinkaladyextravagantforbuyingablacksilk；
it\'ssuchausefuldress；lastsforever——almost。"
Days，weeks，andmonthsrolledon，andwiththemanever-rollingtideofflower-shows，dinners，at-homes，balls，operas，lawn-
parties，concerts，andtheatres。
Strangethatinonehousethereshouldbetwopeoplewholovedeachother，yettheirlivesransofarapart，exceptwhiletheywereasleep:themanallindustry，self-denial，patience；thewomanallfrivolity，self-indulgence，andamusement；bothchainedtoanoar，only——oneinaworkingboat，theotherinapaintedgalley。
Thewomangottiredfirst，andhercharmingcolorwanedsadly。Shecametohimformedicinetosetherup。"Ifeelsolanguid。"
"No，no，"saidhe；"nomedicinecandotheworkofwholesomefoodandrationalrepose。Youlacktheseasonofallnatures，sleep。
Dineathomethreedaysrunning，andgotobedatten。"
Onthisthedoctor\'swifewenttoachemistforadvice。Hegaveherapinkstimulant；and，asstimulantshavetwoeffects，viz。，firsttostimulate，andthentoweaken，thisdidhernolastinggood。Dr。StainescursedtheLondonseason，andthreatenedtomigratetoLiverpool。
Buttherewasworsebehind。
Returningonedaytohisdressing-room，justafterRosahadcomedown-stairs，hecaughtsightofaredstaininawash-hand-basin。
Heexaminedit；itwasarterialblood。
Hewenttoherdirectly，andexpressedhisanxiety。
"Oh，itisnothing，"saidshe。
"Nothing!Pray，howoftenhasitoccurred?"
"Onceortwice。Imusttakeyouradvice，andbequiet，thatisall。"
Stainesexaminedthehousemaid；sheliedinstinctivelyatfirst，seeinghewasalarmed；but，beingurgedtotellthetruth，saidshehadseenitrepeatedly，andhadtoldthecook。
Hewentdown-stairsagain，andsatdown，lookingwretched。
"Oh，dear!"saidRosa。"Whatisthematternow?"
"Rosa，"saidhe，verygravely，"therearetwopeopleawomanismadtodeceive——herhusbandandherphysician。Youhavedeceivedboth。"
CHAPTERX。
IsuspectDr。Stainesmerelymeanttosaythatshehadconcealedfromhimanalarmingsymptomforseveralweeks；butsheansweredinahurry，toexcuseherself，andletthecatoutofthebag——excusemyvulgarity。
"ItwasallthatMrs。Vivian\'sfault。Shelaughedatmesofornotwearingthem；andshehasawaistyoucanspan——thewretch!"
"Oh，then，youhavebeenwearingstaysclandestinely?"
"Why，youknowIhave。Oh，whatastupid!Ihaveletitallout。"
"Howcouldyoudoit，whenyouknew，byexperience，itisyourdeath?"
"Butitlookssobeautiful，atinywaist。"
"ItlooksashideousasaChinesefoot，and，totheeyeofscience，farmoredisgusting；itisthecauseofsomanyunlovelydiseases。"
"Justtellmeonething；haveyoulookedatMrs。Vivian?"
"Minutely。Ilookatallyourfriendswithgreatanxiety，knowingnoanimalmoredangerousthanafool。Vivian——askinnywoman，withaprettyface，lovelyhair，goodteeth，dyingeyes"——
"Yes，lovely!"
"Asureproofofadisorderedstomach——andawaistpinchedinsounnaturally，thatIsaidtomyself，\'Whereonearthdoesthisidiotputherliver?\'Didyoueverreadofthefrogwhoburst，tryingtoswelltoanox?Well，hereistherivalryreversed；Mrs。Vivianisabagofbonesinaballoon；shecanmachineherselfintoawasp；
butafineyoungwomanlikeyou，withfleshandmuscle，mustkillyourselfthreeorfourtimesbeforeyoucanmakeyourbodyasmeagre，hideous，angular，andunnaturalasVivian\'s。Butallyouladiesaremono-maniacs；onemightaswelltalksensetoagorilla。
Itbroughtyoutotheedgeofthegrave。Isavedyou。Yetyoucouldgoand——Godgrantmepatience。SoIsupposetheseunprincipledwomenlentyoutheirstaystodeceiveyourhusband?"
"No。Buttheylaughedatmesothat——Oh，Christie，I\'mawretch；
IkeptapairattheLucases，andapairatMadameCie\'s，andIputthemonnowandthen。"
"Butyouneverappearedhereinthem?"
"What，beforemytyrant?Ohno，Idarednot。"
"Soyoutookthemoffbeforeyoucamehome?"
Rosahungherhead，andsaid"Yes"inareluctantwhisper。
"Youspentyourdaylightdressing。Youdressedtogoout；dressedagaininstays；dressedagainwithoutthem；andalltodeceiveyourhusband，andkillyourself，atthebiddingoftwoshallow，heartlesswomen，whowoulddanceoveryourgravewithoutapangofremorse，orsentimentofanykind，sincetheylive，likemidges，ONLYTODANCEINTHESUN，ANDSUCKSOMEWORKER\'SBLOOD。"
"Oh，Christie!I\'msoeasilyled。Iamtoogreatafooltolive。
Killme!"
Andshekneeleddown，andrenewedtherequest，lookingupinhisfacewithanexpressionthatmighthavedisarmedCainipsum。
Hesmiledsuperior。"Thequestionis，areyousorryyouhavebeensothoughtless?"
"Yes，dear。Oh!oh!"
"Willyoubeverygoodtomakeup?"
"Oh，yes。Onlytellmehow；foritdoesnotcomenaturaltopoorme。"
"Keepoutofthosewomen\'swayfortherestoftheseason。"
"Iwill。"
"Bringyourstayshome，andallowmetodowhatIlikewiththem。"
"Ofcourse。Cuttheminamillionpieces。"
"Tillyouarerecovered，youmustbemypatient，andgonowherewithoutme。"
"Thatisnopunishment，Iamsure。"
"Punishment!AmIthemantopunishyou?Ionlywanttosaveyou。"
"Well，darling，itwon\'tbethefirsttime。"
"No；butIdohopeitwillbethelast。"
CHAPTERXI。
"Sublatacausatollitureffectus。"Thestaysbeinggone，anddissipationmoderated，Mrs。Stainesbloomedagain，andtheygaveoneortwounpretendinglittledinnersattheBijou。Dr。Stainesadmittednofalsefriendstothese。Theyneverwentbeyondeight；
fivegentlemen，threeladies。Bythisarrangementtheterriblediscursivenessofthefair，andman\'scrueldispositiontoworkasubjectthreadbare，werecontrolledandmodified，andahappybalanceofconversationestablished。LadyCicelyTrehernewasalwaysinvited，andalwaysmanagedtocome；forshesaid，"TheywerethemostagweeablelittlepaatiesinLondon，andthehostandhostessbothsointewesting。"Intheautumn，Stainesworkeddoubletideswiththepen，andfoundavehicleformedicalnarrativesinaweeklymagazinethatdidnotprofessmedicine。
Thisnewveinputhiminheart。Hisfees，towardstheendoftheyear，werelessthanlastyear，becausetherewasnohundred-guineafee；buttherewasamarkedincreaseinthesmallfees，andtheunflaggingpenhadactuallyearnedhimtwohundredpounds，ornearly。Sohewasingoodspirits。
NotsoMrs。Staines；forsometimeshehadbeenuneasy，fretful，andlikeapersonwithaweightonhermind。
OneSundayshesaidtohim，"Oh，dear，Idofeelsodull。Nobodytogotochurchwith，noryettotheZoo。"
"I\'llgowithyou，"saidStaines。
"Youwill!Towhich?"
"Toboth；inforapenny，inforapound。"
Sotochurchtheywent；andStaines，whosemottowas"Hocage，"
mindedhisbook。Rosahadintervalsofattentiontothewords，butfoundplentyoftimetostudythecostumes。
DuringtheLitanyinbustledClara，thehousemaid，withawhitejacketonsolikehermistress\'s，thatRosaclutchedherownconvulsively，toseewhethershehadnotbeenskinnedofitbysomedevilishsleight-of-hand。
No，itwasonherback；butClara\'swasidentical。
Inherexcitement，RosapinchedStaines，andwithhernose，thatwentlikeawater-wagtail，pointedoutthemalefactor。Thenshewhispered，"Look!Howdareshe?Myveryjacket!Earringstoo，andbrooches，anddressesherhairlikemine。"
"Well，nevermind，"whisperedStaines。"Sundayisherday。Wehavegotalltheweektoshine。There，don\'tlookather——\'Fromallevilspeaking，lying，andslandering\'"——
"Ican\'tkeepmyeyesoffher。"
"AttendtotheLitany。Doyouknow，thisisreallyabeautifulcomposition?"
"I\'dratherdotheworkfiftytimesovermyself。"
"Hush!peoplewillhearyou。"
Whentheywalkedhomeafterchurch，Stainestriedtodivertherfromtheconsiderationofherwrongs；butno——allothertopicsweretooflatbycomparison。
Shemournedthehardfateofmistresses——unfortunatecreaturesthatcouldnotdowithoutservants。
"Isnotthataconfessionthatservantsaregood，usefulcreatures，withalltheirfaults?Thenastothemaniafordress，why，thatisnotconfinedtothem。Itisthemaniaofthesex。Areyoufreefromit?"
"No，ofcoursenot。ButIamalady，ifyouplease。"
"Thensheisyourintellectualinferior，andmoreexcusable。
Anyway，itiswisetoconniveatathingwecan\'thelp。"
"Whatkeepher，afterthis?no，never。"
"Mydear，praydonotsendheraway，forsheistidyinthehouse，andquick，andbetterthananyonewehavehadthislastsixmonths；andyouknowyouhavetriedagreatnumber。"
"Tohearyouspeak，onewouldthinkitwasmyfaultthatwehavesomanybadservants。"
"Ineversaiditwasyourfault；butITHINK，dearest，alittlemoreforbearanceintrifles"——
"Trifles!trifles——foramistressandmaidtobeseendressedalikeinthesamechurch?Youtaketheservants\'partagainstme，thatyoudo。"
"Youshouldnotsaythat，eveninjest。Comenow，doyoureallythinkajacketlikeyourscanmaketheservantlooklikeyou，ordetractfromyourgraceandbeauty?Thereisaverysimpleway；
putyourjacketbyforafutureoccasion，andwearsomethingelseinitssteadatchurch。"
"Anicething，indeed，togiveintothesecreatures。Iwon\'tdoit。"
"Whywon\'tyou，thisonce?"
"BecauseIwon\'t——there!"
"Thatisunanswerable，"saidhe。
Mrs。Stainessaidthat；butwhenitcametoacting，shedeferredtoherhusband\'swish；sheresignedherintentionofsendingforClaraandgivingherwarning。Onthecontrary，whenClaraletherin，andthewhitejacketsrubbedtogetherinthenarrowpassage，sheactuallysaidnothing，butstalkedtoherownroom，andtoreherjacketoff，andflungitonthefloor。
Unfortunately，shewassolongdressingfortheZoo，thatClaracameintoarrangetheroom。Shepicksupthewhitejacket，takesitinbothhands，givesitaflap，andproceedstohangitupinthewardrobe。
Thenthegreatfeminineheartburstitsbounds。
"Youcanleavethatalone。Ishallnotwearthatagain。"
Thereuponensuedanunevenencounter，ClarabeingoneofthoseofwhomtheScripturesays，"Thepoisonofaspsisundertheirtongues。"
"La，ma\'am，"saidshe，"why，\'tain\'tsoverydirty。"
"No；butitistoocommon。"
"Oh，becauseI\'vegotonelikeit。Ay。Missisescan\'tabideagood-lookingservant，nortosee\'emdressedbecoming。"
"Mistressesdonotlikeservantstoforgettheirplace，norwearwhatdoesnotbecometheirsituation。"
"Mysituation!Why，Icanpaymyway，gowhereIwill。Idon\'ttrembleatthetradesmen\'sknock，assomedo。"
"Leavetheroom!Leaveitthismoment。"
"Leavetheroom，yes——andI\'llleavethehousetoo，andtellalltheneighborswhatIknowaboutit。"
Sheflouncedoutandslammedthedoor；andRosasatdown，trembling。
Clararushedtothekitchen，andtheretoldthecookandAndrewPearmanhowshehadgivenittothemistress，andeverywordshehadsaidtoher，withagoodmanymoreshehadnot。
Thecooklaughedandencouragedher。
ButAndrewPearmanwaswroth，andsaid，"Youtoaffrontourmistresslikethat!Why，ifIhadheardyou，I\'dhavetwistedyourneckforye。"
"Itwouldtakeabettermanthanyoutodothat。Youmindyourownbusiness。Sticktoyourone-horsechay。"
"Well，I\'mnotabovemyplace，forthatmatter。Butyougalsmustalwaysbeapingyourbetters。"
"Ihavegotaproperpride，thatisall，andyouhaven\'t。Yououghttobeashamedofyourselftodotwomen\'swork；driveabroughamandwaitonahorse，andthencomeinandwaitattable，Youareatea-kettlegroom，thatiswhatyouare。Why，mybrotherwascoachmantoLordFitz-James，andgavehislordshipnoticethefirsttimehehadtodrivethechildren。Sayshe，\'Idon\'tobjecttothechildren，mylord，butwithherladyshipinthecarriage。\'
It\'ssuchservantsasyouasspoilplaces。Noservantasknowswhat\'sduetoaservantoughttoknowyou。They\'dscornyour\'quaintance，asIdo，Mr。Pearman。"
"Youareastuck-uphussy，andasoldier\'sjade，"roaredAndrew。
"Andyouarealowtea-kettlegroom。"
Thisexpressionwoundedthegreatequestriansoultothequick；therestofSundayheponderedonit；thenextmorninghedrovethedoctor，asusual，butwithaheavyheart。
Meantime，thecookmadehasteandtoldthebakerPearmanhad"gotithot"fromthehousemaid，andshehadcalledhimatea-kettlegroom；andinlessthanhalfanhourafterthatitwasineverystableinthemews。Why，asPearmanwastakingthehorseoutofthebrougham，didn\'ttwolittlered-headedurchinscallout，"Here，comeandseethetea-kettlegroom!"andatnightsomemischievousboychalkedontheblackdoorofthestablealargewhitetea-
kettle，andnextmorningadrunken，idlefellow，withaclaypipeinhismouth，andadirtypairofcorduroytrousers，nocoat，butashirtveryopenatthechest，showinginflamedskin，theeffectofdrink，inspectedthatworkofartwithblinkingeyesandvacillatingtoes，andsaid，"Thiscomesofachapdoingtoomuch。
Afewmorelikeyou，andworkwouldbescarce。Afinethingforgentlefolkstomakeonemanfilltwoplaces!butitain\'tthegentlefolks\'fault，it\'sthemanashumors\'em。"
Pearmanwasapeaceableman，andmadenoreply，butwentonwithhiswork；onlyduringthedayhetoldhismasterthatheshouldbeobligedtohimifhewouldfillhissituationassoonasconvenient。
Themasterinquiredthecause，andthemantoldhim，andsaidthemewswastoohotforhim。
Thedoctorofferedhimfivepoundsayearmore，knowinghehadatreasure；butPearmansaid，withsadnessandfirmness，thathehadmadeuphismindtogo，andgohewould。
Thedoctor\'sheartfairlysankattheprospectoflosingtheonecreaturehecoulddependupon。
NextSundayeveningClarawasout，andfellinwithfriends，towhomsheexaggeratedhergrievance。
Thentheyworkedheruptofury，afterthemannerofservants\'
FRIENDS。Shecamehome，packedherbox，broughtitdown，andthenflouncedintotheroomtoDoctorandMrs。Staines，andsaid，"I
shan\'tsleepanothernightinthishouse。"
Rosawasabouttospeak，butDr。Stainesforbadeher:hesaid，"Youhadbetterthinktwiceofthat。Youareagoodservant，thoughforonceyouhavebeenbetrayedintospeakingdisrespectfully。Whyforfeityourcharacter，andthreeweeks\'wages?"
"Idon\'tcareformywages。Iwon\'tstayinsuchahouseasthis。"
"Come，youmustnotbeimpertinent。"
"Idon\'tmeanto，sir，"saidshe，loweringhervoicesuddenly；
then，raisingitassuddenly，"Therearemykeys，ma\'am，andyoucansearchmybox。"
"Mrs。Staineswillnotsearchyourbox；andyouwillretireatoncetoyourownpartofthehouse。"
"I\'llgofartherthanthat，"saidshe，andsoonafterthestreetdoorwasslammed；theBijoushook。
Atsixo\'clocknextmorning，shecameforherbox。Ithadbeenputawayforsafety。Pearmantoldhershemustwaittillthedoctorcamedown。Shedidnotwait，butwentatelevenA。M。toapolice-
magistrate，andtookoutasummonsagainstDr。Staines，fordetainingaboxcontainingcertainarticlesspecified——valueunderfifteenpounds。
WhenDr。Stainesheardshehadbeenforherbox，butleftnoaddress，hesentPearmantohuntforher。Hecouldnotfindher。
Sheavoidedthehouse，butsentawomanforherdiurnalloveletters。Dr。Stainessentthewomanbacktofetchher。Shecame，receivedherbox，herletters，andthebalanceofherwages，whichwassmall，forStainesdeductedthethreeweeks\'wages。
Twodaysafterwards，tohissurprise，thesummonswasserved。
Outofrespectforacourtofjustice，howeverhumble，Dr。StainesattendednextMondaytomeetthesummons。
Themagistratewasanelderlyman，withafaceshapedlikeahog\'s，butmuchricherincolor，beingpurpleandpimply；sofoulavisageStaineshadrarelyseen，eveninthelowestclassofthecommunity。
Clarasworethatherboxhadbeenopened，andcertainthingsstolenoutofit；andthatshehadbeenrefusedtheboxnextmorning。
Stainessworethathehadneveropenedthebox，andthat，ifanyoneelsehad，itwaswithherconsent，forshehadleftthekeysforthatpurpose。Hebadethemagistrateobservethatifaservantwentawaylikethis，andleftnoaddress，sheputitoutofthemaster\'sPOWERtosendherboxafterher；andheprovedhehadsometroubletoforcetheboxonher。
Thepig-facedbeakshowedamanifestleaningtowardstheservant，buttherewasn\'talegtostandon；andhedidnotbelieve，norwasitcredible，thatanythinghadbeenstolenoutofherbox。
Atthismoment，Pearman，sentbyRosa，enteredthecourtwithanoldgownofClara\'sthathadbeendiscoveredinthescullery，andascribbling-bookofthedoctor\'s，whichClarahadappropriated，andwrittenamorousversesin，verysuperior——innumber——tothosethathavecomedowntousfromAnacreon。
"Handmethose，"saidthepig-facedbeak。
"Whatarethey，Dr。Staines?"
"Ireallydon\'tknow。Imustaskmyservant。"
"Why，morethingsofminethathavebeendetained，"saidClara。
"Somethingsthathavebeenfoundsincesheleft，"saidStaines。
"Oh!thosethathideknowwheretofind。"
"Youngwoman，"saidStaines，"donotinsultthosewhosebreadyouhaveeaten，andwhohavegivenyoumanypresentsbesidesyourwages。Sinceyouaresoreadytoaccusepeopleofstealing，permitmetosaythatthisbookismine，andnotyours；andyet，yousee，itissentafteryoubecauseyouhavewrittenyourtrashinit。"
Thepurple，pig-facedbeakwentinstantlyoutoftherecord，andwastedadealoftimereadingClara\'spoetry，andtryingtobewitty。Heraisedthequestionwhosebookthiswas。ThegirlsworethatitWASgivenherbyaladywhowasnowinRome。Stainessworeheboughtitofacertainstationer，andhappeningtohavehispassbookinhispocket，producedanentrycorrespondingwiththedateofthebook。
Thepig-facedbeaksaidthatthedoctor\'swasanimprobablestory，andthatthegownandthebookwerequiteenoughtojustifythesummons。Verdict，oneguineacosts。
"What，becausetwothingssheneverdemandedhavebeenfoundandsentafterher?Thisismonstrous。Ishallappealtoyoursuperiors。"
"IfyouareimpertinentI\'llfineyoufivepounds。"
"Verywell，sir。Nowhearme:ifthisisanhonestjudgment，I
prayGodImaybedeadbeforetheyear\'sout；and，ifitisn\'t，I
prayGodyoumaybe。"
Thenthepig-facedbeakfiredup，andthreatenedtofinehimforblaspheming。
Hedeignednoreply，butpaidtheguinea，andClarasweptoutofthecourt，withatrainayardlong，andleaningonthearmofascarletsoldierwhoavengedDr。Staineswithmilitarypromptitude。
Christopherwenthomeraginginternally，forhithertohehadneverseensogrossacaseofinjustice。
Oneofhishumblepatientsfollowedhim，andsaid，"IwishIhadknown，sir；youshouldn\'thavecomeheretobeinsulted。Why，nogentlemancanevergetjusticeagainstaservantgirlwhenHEissitting。Itisnotorious，andthatmakesthesehussiessobold。
I\'veseenthatjadeherewiththesamestorytwiceafore。"
Stainesreachedhomemorediscomposedthanhecouldhavehimselfbelieved。Thereasonwasthatbarefacedinjusticeinacourtofjusticeshookhiswholefaithinman。Heopenedthestreetdoorwithhislatch-key，andfoundtwomenstandinginthepassage。Heinquiredwhattheywanted。
"Well，sir，"saidoneofthem，civillyenough，"weonlywantourdue。"
"Forwhat?"
"Forgoodsdeliveredatthishouse，sir。Balanceofaccount。"Andhehandedhimabutcher\'sbill，L88，11s。51/2d。
"Youmustbemistaken；werunnobillshere。Wepayreadymoneyforeverything。"
"Well，sir，"saidthebutcher，"therehavebeenpayments；butthebalancehasalwaysbeengaining；andwehavebeenputoffsooften，wedeterminedtoseethemaster。Showyouthebooks，sir，andwelcome。"
"Thisinstant，ifyouplease。"Hetookthebutcher\'saddress，whothenretired，andtheothertradesman，agrocer，toldhimasimilartale；balance，sixtypoundsodd。
Hewenttothebutcher\'s，sickatheart，inspectedthebooks，andsawthat，rightorwrong，theywereincontrovertible；thatdebthadbeengainingslowly，butsurely，almostfromthetimeheconfidedtheaccountstohiswife。Shehadkeptfaithwithhimaboutfiveweeks，nomore。
Thegrocer\'sbookstoldasimilartale。
Thedebtorputhishandtohisheart，andstoodamoment。Theverygrocerpitiedhim，andsaid，"There\'snoharry，doctor；atrifleonaccount，ifsettlementinfullnotconvenientjustnow。Iseeyouhavebeenkeptinthedark。"
"No，no，"saidChristopher；"I\'llpayeveryshilling。"Hegaveonegulp，andhurriedaway。
Atthefishmonger\'s，thesamestory，onlyforasmalleramount。
Abillofnineteenpoundsattheverypastrycook\'s；aplaceshehadpromisedhim，asherphysician，nevertoenter。
Atthedraper\'s，thirty-sevenpoundsodd。
Inshort，wherevershehaddealt，thesamesystem:partialpayments，andever-growingdebt。
RememberingMadameCie，hedroveinacabtoRegentStreet，andaskedforMrs。Staines\'saccount。
"ShallIsendit，sir?"
"No；Iwilltakeitwithme。"
"MissEdwards，makeoutMrs。Staines\'saccount，ifyouplease。"
MissEdwardswasagoodwhilemakingitout；butitwasreadyatlast。Hethrustitintohispocket，withoutdaringtolookatitthere；buthewentintoVerrey\'s，andaskedforacupofcoffee，andperusedthedocument。
Theprincipalitemswereasfollows:——
Ls。
May4。Re-shapingandrepairingelegantlacemantle，18
Chipbonnet，feather，andflowers……44
May20。Makingandtrimmingbluesilkdress——materialpartfound……1919
Fiveyardsrichbluesilktomatch……42
June1。Polonaiseandjackettrimmedwithlace——
materialpartfound……1717
June8。Oneblacksilkdress，handsomelytrimmedwithjetguipureandlace……4918
Afewshredsandfragmentsoffinery，boughtatoddtimes，swelledthebilltoL9911s。6d——nottoterrifythefemalemindwiththreefigures。
Andletnounsophisticatedyoungladyimaginethatthetrimmings，whichconstitutedthree-fourthsofthisbill，wereworthanything。
Theword"lace，"inMadameCie\'sbill，invariablymeantmachine-
madetrash，worthtenpenceayard，butchargedeighteenshillingsayardforonepennyworthofworkinputtingiton。Wherereallacewasused，MadameCiealwaysLETHERCUSTOMERSKNOWIT。MissLucas\'sbillforthisyearcontainedthetwofollowinglittleitems:——
Ls。
Richgrosdececilepolonaiseandjackettomatch，trimmedwithChantillylaceandvalenciennes……685
Superbrobedechambre，richlytrimmedwithskunkfur。400
Thecustomerfoundthestuff；viz。，twoshawls。Carolinafoundthenastylittlepole-cats，andgottwenty-fourshillingsforthem；
MadameCiefoundTHEREST。
ButChristopherStaineshadnotMissLucas\'sbilltocomparehiswife\'swith。Hecouldonlycomparethelatterwiththeirincome，andwithmalenotionsofcommonsenseandreason。
Hewenthome，andintohisstudio，andsatdownonhishardbeechchair；helookedroundonhisbooksandhiswork，andthen，forthefirsttime，rememberedhowlongandhowpatientlyhehadtoiledforeveryhundredpoundshehadmade；andhelaidtheevidencesofhiswife\'sprofusionanddeceitbythesideofthosesignsofpainfulindustryandself-denial，andhissoulfilledwithbitterness。
"Deceit!deceit!"
Mrs。Stainesheardhewasinthehouse，andcametoknowaboutthetrial。Shecamehurriedlyin，andcaughthimwithhisheadonthetable，inanattitudeofprostration，quitenewtohim；heraisedhisheaddirectlyheheardher，andrevealedaface，pale，stern，andwretched。
