“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?”