On this the doctor's wife went to a chemist for advice. He gave her a pink stimulant; and, as stimulants have two effects, viz., first to stimulate, and then to weaken, this did her no lasting good. Dr. Staines cursed the London season, and threatened to migrate to Liverpool. But there was worse behind. Returning one day to his dressing-room, just after Rosa had come down-stairs, he caught sight of a red stain in a wash-hand-basin. He examined it; it was arterial blood. He went to her directly, and expressed his anxiety. “Oh, it is nothing,” said she. “Nothing! Pray, how often has it occurred?” “Once or twice. I must take your advice, and be quiet, that is all.” Staines examined the housemaid; she lied instinctively at first, seeing he was alarmed; but, being urged to tell the truth, said she had seen it repeatedly, and had told the cook. He went down-stairs again, and sat down, looking wretched. “Oh, dear!” said Rosa. “What is the matter now?” “Rosa,” said he, very gravely, “there are two people a woman is mad to deceive--her husband and her physician. You have deceived both.” CHAPTER X. I suspect Dr. Staines merely meant to say that she had concealed from him an alarming symptom for several weeks; but she answered in a hurry, to excuse herself, and let the cat out of the bag--excuse my vulgarity. “It was all that Mrs. Vivian's fault. She laughed at me so for not wearing them; and she has a waist you can span--the wretch!” “Oh, then, you have been wearing stays clandestinely?” “Why, you know I have. Oh, what a stupid! I have let it all out.” “How could you do it, when you knew, by experience, it is your death?” “But it looks so beautiful, a tiny waist.” “It looks as hideous as a Chinese foot, and, to the eye of science, far more disgusting; it is the cause of so many unlovely diseases.” “Just tell me one thing; have you looked at Mrs. Vivian?” “Minutely. I look at all your friends with great anxiety, knowing no animal more dangerous than a fool. Vivian--a skinny woman, with a pretty face, lovely hair, good teeth, dying eyes”-- “Yes, lovely!” “A sure proof of a disordered stomach--and a waist pinched in so unnaturally, that I said to myself, 'Where on earth does this idiot put her liver?' Did you ever read of the frog who burst, trying to swell to an ox? Well, here is the rivalry reversed; Mrs. Vivian is a bag of bones in a balloon; she can machine herself into a wasp; but a fine young woman like you, with flesh and muscle, must kill yourself three or four times before you can make your body as meagre, hideous, angular, and unnatural as Vivian's. But all you ladies are mono-maniacs; one might as well talk sense to a gorilla. It brought you to the edge of the grave. I saved you. Yet you could go and--God grant me patience. So I suppose these unprincipled women lent you their stays to deceive your husband?”