"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。