He also thought a little more of style, equipage, choice society, and innumerable things, to which his life had been hitherto a stranger. He began to think and to care more about himself, than he did about any body else. He became of some consequence in his neighbourhood, and expected every one to bow to him, and to treat him as a _monied man_. In short, from a pure philanthropist, he became almost a misanthrope. He began to torment himself about every thing and every body. Nothing pleased him,--his wife and children disturbed him,--he was downright cross to them. And the same man, who once never came into his house without a cheerful smile for every one in it, now took no notice of anyone, except it were to find fault, and to let out words which in his sober senses he would be shocked to hear any other person make use of. "My dear, I am sure you are not well," said Mrs. Bull, to him one day, "I am sure you are not well." "I could have told you that," was the reply. "Do take a little change." "Pish! change! what change? I am changing, and shall soon make some great change, if things go on as they do in this house." "Is anything wrong, my dear?" "Yes, everything is wrong,--nothing is right,--all things are out of order,--and everything wants a change." "Well, my dear, I think, if we took a house for three months at Brighton, it would do us all good." "What good, madam? And who is to pay for it? What will become of my patients? and how am I to support my family? Brighton indeed! No, no! If I cannot be better without going to Brighton, I had better decline at home! Who is to look after my patients?" "Why, there is Doctor Goodfellow, who I am sure you admire. He will attend any of your patients for you. Do, my dear, have a little compassion upon yourself." "And, I suppose, upon you too; upon Kitty as well; upon Mary, Patty, and little Johnny; servants and all,--Heigh!" "If you please, my dear, even so, for you have not had much compassion upon any of us lately; and a change towards us all would be very agreeable." A good wife has nothing to fear, and especially when she knows that she so loves her husband as to desire his health above all things else, whether of body, mind, or spirit. If a wife may not expostulate with her husband, who may? And notwithstanding all his perverseness, she had her own way with him, because she felt it was right. To Brighton they all went; but the fancy had taken too strong hold upon Doctor Bull, to let him rest. He worried himself because he was away from London,--he worried himself about the state of his patients,--the price of stocks,--the state of his own pulse, tongue, eyes, and lungs,--till he could endure himself no longer.