Lady Cicely folded her arms, and contemplated him at first with a sort of zoological curiosity.

Gentleman pacing back yard, like hyena, she had never seen before.
At last she opened her mouth in a whisper, "What is he doing ?" "Waiting for patients." "Oh! Waiting--for--patients ?" "For patients that never come, and never will come." "Cuwious! How little I know of life." "It is that all day, dear, or else writing." Lady Cicely, with her eyes fixed on Staines, made a motion with her hand that she was attending.
"And they won't publish a word he writes." "Poor man!" "Nice for me; is it not ?" "I begin to understand," said Lady Cicely quietly; and soon after retired with her invariable composure.
Meantime, Dr.Staines, like a good husband, had thrown out occasional hints to Mrs.Lucas that he had a wife, beautiful, accomplished, moped.
More than that, he went so far as to regret to her that Mrs.Staines, being in a neighborhood new to him, saw so little society; the more so, as she was formed to shine, and had not been used to seclusion.
All these hints fell dead on Mrs.Lucas.A handsome and skilful doctor was welcome to her: his wife--that was quite another matter.
But one day Mrs.Lucas saw Lady Cicely Treherne's carriage standing at the door.

The style of the whole turnout impressed her.

She wondered whose it was.
On another occasion she saw it drive up, and the lady get out.

She recognized her; and the very next day this parvenue said adroitly, "Now, Dr.Staines, really you can't be allowed to hide your wife in this way.
(Staines stared.) Why not introduce her to me next Wednesday?
It is my night.