He objected that no money was coming in, and therefore it would be
insane to add to their expenses. Rosa persisted, and at last worried
Staines with her importunity. He began to give rather short answers.
Then she quoted Miss Lucas against him. He treated the authority with
marked contempt; and then Rosa fired up a little. Then Staines held his
peace; but did not buy a carriage to visit his no patients.

So at last Rosa complained to Lady Cicely Treherne, and made her the
judge between her husband and herself. Lady Cicely drawled out a prompt
but polite refusal to play that part. All that could be elicited from
her, and that with difficulty, was, "Why quall with your husband about a
cawwige; he is your best fwiend."

"Ah, that he is," said Rosa; "but Miss Lucas is a good friend, and she
knows the world. We don't; neither Christopher nor I."

So she continued to nag at her husband about it, and to say that he was
throwing his only chance away.

Galled as he was by neglect, this was irritating, and at last he could
not help telling her she was unreasonable. "You live a gay life, and I
a sad one. I consent to this, and let you go about with these Lucases,
because you were so dull; but you should not consult them in our private
affairs. Their interference is indelicate and improper. I will not set
up a carriage till I have patients to visit. I am sick of seeing our
capital dwindle, and no income created. I will never set up a carriage
till I have taken a hundred-guinea fee."

"Oh! Then we shall go splashing through the mud all our days."