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.
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