Hecamehomewithhisnotes，andfoundRosabeaminginacrisppeignoir，andherlovelyheaditsnaturalsizeandshape，high-bredandelegant。Hesatdown，andwithherhandinhisproceededtodescribethehousestoher，whenawaiterthrewopenthedoor——
　　"Mrs。JohnCole。"
　　"Florence!"criedRosa，startingup。
　　InflowedFlorence:theybothutteredalittlesquawkofdelight，andwentateachotherliketwolittletigresses，andkissedinswiftalternationwithasingularardor，drawingtheircrestsbacklikesnakes，andthendartingthemforwardandinflictingwhat，tothemalephilosopherlookingon，seemedhardkisses，violentkisses，ratherthanthetenderonestobeexpectedfromtwotendercreaturesembracingeachother。
　　"Darling，"saidRosa，"Iknewyouwouldbethefirst。Didn'tI
　　tellyouso，Christopher?——Myhusband——mydarlingFlorry!Sitdown，love，andtellmeeverything；hehasjustbeenlookingoutforahouse。Ah!youhavegotallthatoverlongago:shehasbeenmarriedsixmonths。Florry，youarehandsomerthanever；andwhatabeautifuldress!Ah!Londonistheplace。RealBrussels，I
　　declare，"andshetookholdofherfriend'slaceandgloatedonit。
　　Christophersmiledgood-naturedly，andsaid，"Idaresayyouladieshaveagooddealtosaytoeachother。"
　　"Oceans，"saidRosa。
　　"Iwillgoandhunthousesagain。"
　　"There'sagoodhusband，"saidMrs。Cole，assoonasthedoorclosedonhim，"andsuchafineman!Why，hemustbesixfeet。
　　Mineisrathershort。Butheisverygood；refusesmenothing。Mywillislaw。"
　　"Thatisallright——youaresosensible；butIwantgoverningalittle，andIlikeit——actually。Didthedressmakerfindit，dear?"
　　"Oh，no!Ihaditbyme。IboughtitatBrusselsonourweddingtour:itisdearertherethaninLondon。"
　　Shesaidthisasif"dearer"and"better"weresynonymous。
　　"Butaboutyourhouse，Rosiedear?"
　　"Yes，darling，I'lltellyouallaboutit。Ineversawamoirethisshadebefore。Idon'tcareforthemingeneral；butthisissodistingue。"
　　Florencerewardedherwithakiss。
　　"Thehouse，"saidRosa。"Oh，hehasseenoneinPortmanStreet，andoneinGloucesterPlace。"
　　"Oh，thatwillneverdo，"criedMrs。Cole。"Itisnousebeingaphysicianinthoseout-of-the-wayplaces。HemustbeinMayfair。"
　　"Musthe?"
　　"Ofcourse。Besides，thenmyJohnniecancallhiminwhentheyarejustgoingtodie。Johnnieisageneralprac。，andmakestwothousandayear；andheshallcallyouronein；buthemustliveinMayfair。Why，Rosie，youwouldnotbesuchagooseastoliveinthoseplaces——theyarequitegoneby。"
　　"Ishalldowhateveryouadviseme，dear。Oh，whatacomforttohaveadearfriend:andsixmonthsmarried，andknowsthings。Howrichlyitistrimmed!Why，itisnearlyalltrimmings。"
　　"Thatisthefashion。"
　　"Oh!"
　　Andafterthatbigwordtherewasnomoretobesaid。
　　Thesetwoladiesintheirconversationgravitatedtowardsdress，andfellflatoniteveryhalf-minute。Thatgreatandelevatingtopicheldthembyasilkencord，butitallowedthemtoflutterupwardsintoothertopics；andinthoseintervals，numerousthoughbrief，theladywhohadbeenmarriedsixmonthsfoundtimetoinstructthematrimonialnovicewithgreatauthority，andevenashadeofpomposity。"Mydear，thewayladiesandgentlemengetahouse——inthefirstplace，youdon'tgoaboutyourselflikethat，andyounevergotothepeoplethemselves，oryouaresuretobetakenin，buttoarespectablehouse-agent。"
　　"Yes，dear，thatmustbethebestway，onewouldthink。"
　　"Ofcourseitis；andyouaskforahouseinMayfair，andheshowsyouseveral，andrecommendsyouthebest，andseesyouarenotcheated。"
　　"Thankyou，love，"saidRosa；"nowIknowwhattodo；I'llnotforgetaword。Andthetrainsobeautifullyshaped!Ah!itisonlyinLondonorParistheycanmakeadressflowbehindlikethat，"etc。，etc。
　　Dr。Stainescamebacktodinneringoodspirits；hehadfoundahouseinHarewoodSquare；goodentrancehall，wherehisgratuitouspatientsmightsitonbenches；gooddining-roomwherehissuperiorpatientsmightwait；andgoodlibrary，tobeusedasaconsulting-
　　room。Rentonlyeighty-fivepoundsperannum。
　　ButRosatoldhimthatwouldneverdo；aphysicianmustbeinthefashionablepartofthetown。
　　"Eventually，"saidChristopher；"butsurelyatfirststarting——andyouknowtheysaylittleboatsshouldnotgotoofarfromshore。"
　　ThenRosarepeatedallherfriend'sarguments，andseemedsounhappyattheideaofnotlivingnearher，thatStaines，whohadnotyetsaidthehardword"no"toher，gavein；consolinghisprudencewiththereflectionthat，afterall，Mr。Colecouldputmanyaguineainhisway，forMr。Colewasmiddle-aged，——thoughhiswifewasyoung，——andhadreallyaverylargepractice。
　　Sonextday，thenewly-weddedpaircalledonahouse-agentinMayfair，andhissonandpartnerwentwiththemtoseveralplaces。
　　TherentsofhousesequaltothatinHarewoodSquarewerethreehundredpoundsayearatleast，andapremiumtoboot。
　　Christophertoldhimthesewerequitebeyondthemark。"Verywell，"saidtheagent。"ThenI'llshowyouaBijou。"
　　Rosaclappedherhands。"Thatisthethingforus。Wedon'twantalargehouse，onlyabeautifulone，andinMayfair。"
　　"ThentheBijouwillbesuretosuityou。"
　　HetookthemtotheBijou。
　　TheBijouhadasmalldining-roomwithoneverylargewindowintwosheetsofplateglass，andaprojectingbalconyfullofflowers；astillsmallerlibrary，whichopenedonasquareyardenclosed。
　　Herewereagreatmanypots，withflowersdeadordyingfromneglect。Onthefirstfloorafair-sizeddrawing-room，andatinyoneattheback:onthesecondfloor，onegoodbedroom，andadressing-room，orlittlebedroom:threegarretsabove。
　　Rosawasinecstasies。"Itisanest，"saidshe。
　　"Itisabank-note，"saidtheagent，stimulatingequalenthusiasm，afterhisfashion。"Youcanalwaysselltheleaseagainformoremoney。"
　　Christopherkeptcool。"Idon'twantahousetosell，buttolivein，anddomybusiness；Iamaphysician:nowthedrawing-roomisbuiltovertheentrancetoamews；thebackroomsalllookintoamews:weshallhavetheeternalnoiseandsmellofamews。Mywife'srestwillbebrokenbythecarriagesrollinginandout。
　　Thehallisfearfullysmallandstuffy。Therentisabominablyhigh；andwhatisthepremiumfor，Iwonder?"
　　"AlwaysapremiuminMayfair，sir。Aleaseispropertyhere:thegentlemanisnotacquaintedwiththispart，madam。"
　　"Oh，yes，heis，"saidRosa，asboldlyasasixyears'wife:"heknowseverything。"
　　"ThenheknowsthatahouseofthiskindatahundredandthirtypoundsayearinMayfairisabank-note。"
　　StainesturnedtoRosa。"Thepoorpatients，whereamItoreceivethem?"
　　"Inthestable，"suggestedthehouseagent。
　　"Oh!"saidRosa，shocked。
　　"Well，then，thecoach-house。Why，there'splentyofroomforabrougham，andonehorse，andfiftypoorpatientsatatime:beggarsmusn'tbechoosers；ifyougivethemphysicgratis，thatisenough:
　　youain'tboundtofind'emapalacetositdownin，andhotcoffeeandrumpsteaksallround，doctor。"
　　ThistickledRosasothatsheburstoutlaughing，andthenceforwardgiggledatintervals，witofthisrefinednaturehavingallthecharmofnoveltyforher。
　　Theyinspectedthestables，whichwereindeedtheoneredeemingfeatureinthehorridlittleBijou；andthentheagentwouldshowthemthekitchen，andthenewstove。HeexpatiatedonthistoMrs。
　　Staines。"Cookadinnerforthirtypeople，madam。"
　　"Andthere'sroomforthemtoeatit——intheroad，"saidStaines。
　　Theagentremindedhimtherewerelargerplacestobehad，byaverysimpleprocess，viz。，payingforthem。
　　Stainesthoughtofthelarge，comfortablehouseinHarewoodSquare。
　　"Onehundredandthirtypoundsayearforthispokylittlehole?"
　　hegroaned。
　　"Why，itisnothingatallforaBijou。"
　　"Butitistoomuchforabandbox。"
　　Rosalaidherhandonhisarm，withanimploringglance。
　　"Well，"saidhe，"I'llsubmittotherent，butIreallycannotgivethepremium，itistooridiculous。Heoughttobribemetorentit，notIhim。"
　　"Can'tbedonewithout，sir。"
　　"Well，I'llgiveahundredpoundsandnomore。"
　　"Impossible，sir。"
　　"Thengoodmorning。Now，dearest，justcomeandseethehouseatHarewoodSquare，——eighty-fivepoundsandnopremium。"
　　"Willyouobligemewithyouraddress，doctor?"saidtheagent。
　　"Dr。Staines，Morley'sHotel。"
　　AndsotheyleftMayfair。
　　Rosasighedandsaid，"Oh，thenicelittleplace；andwehavelostitfortwohundredpounds。"
　　"Twohundredpoundsisagreatdealforustothrowaway。"
　　"BeingneartheColeswouldsoonhavemadethatuptoyou:andsuchacoseylittlenest。"
　　"Wellthehousewillnotrunaway。"
　　"Butsomebodyissuretosnapitup。ItisaBijou。"Shewasdisappointed，andhalfinclinedtopout。ButsheventedherfeelingsinalettertoherbelovedFlorry，andappearedatdinnerassweetasusual。
　　Duringdinneranotecamefromtheagent，acceptingDr。Staine'soffer。Heglozedthematterthus:hehadpersuadedtheowneritwasbettertotakeagoodtenantatamoderateloss，thantolettheBijoubeuninhabitedduringthepresentrainyseason。Anassignmentofthelease——whichcontainedtheusualcovenants——wouldbepreparedimmediately，andDr。Stainescouldhavepossessioninforty-eighthours，bypayingthepremium。
　　Rosawasdelighted，andassoonasdinnerwasover，andthewaitersgone，shecameandkissedChristopher。
　　Hesmiled，andsaid，"Well，youarepleased；thatistheprincipalthing。Ihavesavedtwohundredpounds，andthatissomething。Itwillgotowardsfurnishing。"
　　"La!yes，"saidRosa，"Iforgot。Weshallhavetogetfurniturenow。Hownice!"Itwasapleasurethemanofforecastcouldhavewillinglydispensedwith；buthesmiledather，andtheydiscussedfurniture，andChristopher，whoseretentivememoryhadpickedupalittleofeverything，saidtherewerewholesaleupholsterersintheCitywhosoldcheaperthantheWest-endhouses，andhethoughtthebestwaywastomeasuretheroomsintheBijou，andgotothecitywithaclearideaofwhattheywanted；askthepricesofvariousnecessaryarticles，andthenmakealist，anddemandadiscountoffifteenpercentonthewholeorder，beingsoconsiderable，andpaidforincash。
　　Rosaacquiesced，andtoldChristopherhewasthecleverestmaninEngland。
　　Aboutnineo'clockMrs。Colecameintocondolewithherfriend，andheardthegoodnews。WhenRosatoldherhowtheythoughtoffurnishing，shesaid，"Ohno，youmustnotdothat；youwillpaydoubleforeverything。ThatisthemistakeJohnnieandImade；andafterthatafriendofminetookmetotheauction-rooms，andIsaweverythingsold——oh，suchbargains；half，andlessthanhalf，theirvalue。Shehasfurnishedherhousealmostentirelyfromsales，andshehastheloveliestthingsintheworld——suchducksoftables，andjardinieres，andthings；andbeautifulrarechina——herhouseswarmswithit——foranoldsong。Asaleistheplace。Andthensoamusing。"
　　"Yes，but，"saidChristopher，"Ishouldnotlikemywifetoencounterapublicroom。"
　　"Notalone，ofcourse；butwithme。La!Dr。Staines，theyaretoofullofbuyingandsellingtotroubletheirheadsaboutus。"
　　"Oh，Christopher，doletmegowithher。AmIalwaystobeachild?"
　　Thusappealedtobeforeastranger，Stainesrepliedwarmly，"No，dearest，no；youcannotpleasemebetterthanbybeginninglifeinearnest。Ifyoutwoladiestogethercanfaceanauction-room，gobyallmeans；onlyImustaskyounottobuychinaorormulu，oranythingthatwillbreakorspoil，butonlysolid，goodfurniture。"
　　"Won'tyoucomewithus?"
　　"No；oryoumightfeelyourselfinleading-strings。RemembertheBijouisasmallhouse；chooseyourfurnituretofitit，andthenweshallsavesomethingbyitsbeingsosmall。"
　　ThiswasWednesday。TherewasaweeklysaleinOxfordStreetonFridays；andtheladiesmadetheappointmentaccordingly。
　　Nextday，afterbreakfast，Christopherwassilentandthoughtfulawhile，andatlastsaidtoRosa，"I'llshowyouIdon'tlookonyouasachild；I'llconsultyouinadelicatematter。"
　　Rosa'seyessparkled。
　　"ItisaboutmyUnclePhilip。Hehasbeenverycruel；hehaswoundedmedeeply；hehaswoundedmethroughmywife。Ineverthoughthewouldrefusetocometoourmarriage。"
　　"Anddidhe?Younevershowedmehisletter。"
　　"Youwerenotmywifethen。Ikeptanaffrontfromyou；butnow，yousee，Ikeepnothing。"
　　"DearChristie!"
　　"Iamsohappy，Ihavegotoverthatsting——almost；andthememoryofmanykindactscomesbacktome；andIdon'tknowwhattodo。
　　Itseemsungratefulnottovisithim——itseemsalmostmeantocall。"
　　"I'lltellyou；takemetoseehimdirectly。Hewon'thateusforever，ifheseesusoften。Wemayaswellbeginatonce。
　　Nobodyhatesmelong。"
　　Christopherwasproudofhiswife'scourageandwisdom。Hekissedher，beggedhertoputontheplainestdressshecould，andtheywenttogethertocallonUnclePhilip。
　　WhentheygottohishouseinGloucesterPlace，PortmanSquare，Rosa'sheartbegantoquake，andshewasrightgladwhentheservantsaid"Notathome。"
　　Theylefttheircardsandaddress；andshepersuadedChristophertotakehertothesale-roomtoseethethings。
　　Alotofbrokerswerethere，likevultures；andoneafteranothersteppedforwardandpesteredthemtoemployhiminthemorning。
　　Dr。Stainesdeclinedtheirservicescivillybutfirmly，andheandRosalookedoveraquantityoffurniture，andsettledwhatsortofthingstobuy。
　　Anotherbrokercameup，andwheneverthecouplestoppedbeforeanarticle，proceededtopraiseitassomethingmostextraordinary。
　　Staineslistenedincold，satiricalsilence，andtoldhiswife，inFrench，todothesame。Notwithstandingtheirmarkeddisgust，theimpudent，intrusivefellowstucktothem，andforcedhisvenalcriticismonthem，andmadethemuncomfortable，andshortenedtheirtourofobservation。
　　"IthinkIshallcomewithyouto-morrow，"saidChristopher，"orI
　　shallhavetheseblackguardspesteringyou。"
　　"Oh，Florrywillsendthemtotheright-about。Sheisasbraveasalion。"
　　NextdayDr。StaineswassentforintotheCityattwelvetopaythemoneyandreceivetheleaseoftheBijou，andthisandthetakingpossessionoccupiedhimtillfouro'clock，whenhecametohishotel。
　　Meantime，hiswifeandMrs。Colehadgonetotheauction-room。
　　Itwasalargeroom，withagoodsprinklingofpeople，butnotcrowdedexceptaboutthetable。Attheheadofthistable——fulltwentyfeetlong——wastheauctioneer'spulpit，andthelotswerebroughtinturntotheotherendofthetableforsightandsale。
　　"Wemusttryandgetaseat，"saidtheenterprisingMrs。Cole，andpushedboldlyin；thetimidRosafollowedstrictlyinherwake，andsoevadedthehumanwavesherleaderclove。Theywereimportunedateverystepbybrokersthrustingcataloguesonthem，withoffersoftheirservices，yettheysoongottothetable。Agentlemanresignedonechair，abrokeranother，andtheywereseated。
　　Mrs。Stainesletdownhalfherveil，butMrs。Colesurveyedthecompanypoint-blank。
　　Thebrokerwhohadgivenuphisseat，andnowstoodbehindRosa，offeredherhiscatalogue。"No，thankyou，"saidRosa；"Ihaveone；"andsheproducedit，andstudiedit，yetmanagedtolookfurtivelyatthecompany。
　　TherewerenotaboveadozenprivatepersonsvisiblefromwhereRosasat；perhapsasmanymoreinthewholeroom。Theywereeasilydistinguishablebytheircleanlyappearance:thedealers，maleorfemale，weremoreorlessrusty，greasy，dirty，aquiline。Noteventheamateurswerebrightlydressed；thatfundamentalerrorwasconfinedtoMesdamesColeandStaines。Theexperienced，howeverwealthy，donothuntbargainsinsilkandsatin。
　　Theauctioneercalled"Lot7。Foursaucepans，twotrays，akettle，abootjack，andatowel-horse。"
　　Thesewereputupattwoshillings，andspeedilyknockeddownforfivetoafatoldwomaninagreasyvelvetjacket；blindindustryhadsewedbuglesonit，notartfully，butagriculturally。
　　"Theladyontheleft!"saidtheauctioneertohisclerk。Thatmeant"Getthemoney。"
　　Theoldladyplungedahugepawintoahugepocket，andpulledoutahugehandfulofcoin——copper，silver，andgold——andpaidforthelot；andRosasurveyedherdirtyhandsandnailswithinnocentdismay。"Oh，whatadreadfulcreature!"shewhispered；"andwhatcanshewantwiththoseoldrubbishythings?Isawaholeinonefromhere。"Thebrokeroverheard，andsaid，"Sheisadealer，ma'am，andthethingsweregivenaway。She'llsellthemforaguinea，easy。"
　　"Didn'tItellyou?"saidMrs。Cole。
　　Soonafterthisthesuperiorlotscameon，andsixveryneatbedroomchairsweresoldtoallappearanceforfifteenshillings。
　　Thenextlotwasidentical，andRosahazardedabid，——"Sixteenshillings。"
　　Instantlysomedealer，oneofthehook-nosedthatgatheredroundeachlotasitcametothefootofthetable，cried"Eighteenshillings。"
　　"Nineteen，"saidRosa。
　　"Aguinea，"saidthedealer。
　　"Don'tletitgo，"saidthebrokerbehindher。"Don'tletitgo，ma'am。"
　　Shecoloredattheintrusion，andleftoffbiddingdirectly，andaddressedherselftoMrs。Cole。"WhyshouldIgivesomuch，whenthelastweresoldforfifteenshillings?"
　　Therealreasonwasthatthefirstlotwasnotbidforatall，exceptbytheproprietor。However，thebrokergaveheraverydifferentsolution；hesaid，"Thetradealwaysrunupaladyoragentleman。Letmebidforyou；theywon'trunmeup；theyknowbetter。"
　　Rosadidnotreply，butlookedatMrs。Cole。
　　"Yes，dear，"saidthatlady；"youhadmuchbetterlethimbidforyou。"
　　"Verywell，"saidRosa；"youcanbidforthischestofdrawers——lot25。"
　　Whenlot25cameon，thebrokerbidinthesilliestpossibleway，ifhisobjecthadbeentogetabargain。Hebegantobidearlyandostentatiously；thearticlewasprotectedbysomebodyorothertherepresent，whonowofcoursesawhiswayclear；heranitupaudaciously，anditwaspurchasedforRosaataboutthepriceitcouldhavebeenboughtforatashop。
　　Thenextthingshewantedwasasetofoakchairs。
　　Theywentuptotwenty-eightpounds；thenshesaid，"Ishallgivenomore，sir。"
　　"Betternotlosethem，"saidtheagent；"theyareagreatbargain；"
　　andbidanotherpoundforheronhisownresponsibility。
　　Theywerestillrunup，andRosaperemptorilyrefusedtogiveanymore。Shelostthem，accordingly，bygoodluck。Herfaithfulbrokerlookedblank；sodidtheproprietor。
　　But，asthesaleproceeded，shebeingyoung，thecompetition，thoughmostofitsham，beingartfulandexciting，andthetraitorsheemployedconstantlypuffingeveryarticle，shewasdrawnintowishingforthings，andbiddingbyherfeelings。
　　Thenhertraitorplayedagamethathasbeenplayedahundredtimes，andtheperpetratorsneveroncelynched，astheyoughttobe，onthespot。Hesignalledaconfederatewithahookednose；
　　theJewrascalbidagainsttheChristianscoundrel，andsotheyranupthemoreenticingthingstotwicetheirvalueunderthehammer。
　　Rosagotflushed，andhereyegleamedlikeagambler's，andsheboughtawaylikewildfire。Inwhichsportshecaughtsightofanoldgentleman，withlittleblackeyesthatkepttwinklingather。
　　ShecomplainedoftheseeyestoMrs。Cole。"Whydoeshetwinkleso?Icanseeitisatme。Iamdoingsomethingfoolish——IknowI
　　am。"
　　Mrs。Coleturned，andfixedahaughtystareontheoldgentleman。
　　Wouldyoubelieveit?insteadofsinkingthroughthefloor，hesathisground，andretortedwithacold，cleargrin。
　　Butnow，wheneverRosa'sagentbidforher，andtheothermanofstrawagainsthim，theblackeyestwinkled，andRosa'scouragebegantooozeaway。Atlastshesaid，"Thatisenoughforoneday。
　　Ishallgo。Whocouldbearthoseeyes?"
　　Thebrokertookheraddress；sodidtheauctioneer'sclerk。Theauctioneeraskedherfornodeposit；herbeautiful，innocent，andhigh-bredfacewasenoughforamanwhowasalwaysreadingfaces，andinterpretingthem。
　　Andsotheyretired。
　　Butthischarmingsexislikethatsameauctioneer'shammer，itcannotgoabruptly。Itisalwaysgoing——going——going——alongtimebeforeitisgone。Ithinkitwouldperhapsloiteratthedoorofajail，withtheorderofreleaseinitshand，aftersixyears'
　　confinement。Gettinguptogoquenchesinitthedesiretogo。Sotheseladieshavinggotuptogo，turnedandlingered，andhungfiresolong，thatatlastanothersetofoakchairscameup。"Oh!
　　Imustseewhatthesegofor，"saidRosa，atthedoor。
　　ThebiddingwasmightylanguidnowRosa'sbrokerwasnotstimulatingit；andtheauctioneerwasjustknockingdowntwelvechairs——oakandleather——andtwoarm-chairs，fortwentypounds，when，castinghiseyesaround，hecaughtsightofRosalookingathimratherexcited。Helookedinquiringlyather。Shenoddedslightly；heknockedthemdowntoherattwentyguineas，andtheywerereallyagreatbargain。
　　"Twenty-two，"criedthedealer。
　　"Toolate，"saidtheauctioneer。
　　"Ispokewiththehammer，sir。"
　　"Afterthehammer，Isaacs。"
　　"ShelpmeGod，wewastogether。"
　　Oneortwomoreofhistribeconfirmedthispiousfalsehood，andclamoredtohavethemputupagain。
　　"Callthenextlot，"saidtheauctioneer，peremptorily。"Makeupyourmindalittlequickernexttime，Mr。Isaacs；youhavebeenlongenoughatittoknowthevalueofoakandmoroccar。"