"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.
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