“By no means. Try this” (he scratched a prescription which would not have misbecome the tomb of Cheops), “and come again in a month.” Ting! He struck a bell. That “ting” said, “Go, live, Guinea; and let another come.” “Heart-disease now!” said Mrs. Dodd, sinking back in her hired carriage, and the tears were in her patient eyes. “My own, own mamma,” said Julia earnestly, “do not distress yourself. I have no disease in the world, but my old, old, old one, of being a naughty, wayward girl. As for you, mamma, you have resigned your own judgment to your inferiors, and that is both our misfortunes. Dear, dear mamma, do take me to a doctress next time, if you have not had enough.” “To a what, love?” “A she-doctor, then.” “A female physician, child? There is no such thing. No; assurance is becoming a characteristic of our sex; but we have not yet intruded ourselves into the learned professions, thank Heaven.” “Excuse me, mamma, there are one or two; for the newspapers say so.” “'Well, dear, there are none in this country, happily.” “'What, not in London?” “No.” “Then what _is_ the use of such a great overgrown place, all smoke, if there is nothing in it you cannot find in the country? Let us go back to Barkington this very day, this minute, this instant; oh, pray, pray.” “And so you shall--to-morrow. But you must pity your poor mother's anxiety, and see Dr. Chalmers first.” “Oh, mamma, not another surgeon! He frightened me; he hurt me. I never heard of such a thing; oh, please not another surgeon.” “It is not a surgeon, dear; it is the Court Physician.” The Court Physician detected “a somewhat morbid condition of the great nervous centres.” To an inquiry whether there was heart-disease, he replied, “Pooh!” On being told Sir William had announced heart-disease, he said, “Ah! _that alters the case entirely._” He maintained, however, that it must be trifling, and would go no further, the nervous system once restored to its healthy tone. “O Jupiter, aid us! Blue pill and Seidhitz powder.” Dr. Kenyon found the mucous membrane was irritated and required soothing. “O Jupiter, &c.” Mrs. Dodd returned home consoled and confused; Julia listless and apathetic. Tea was ordered, with two or three kinds of bread, thinnest slices of meat, and a little blane mange, &c., their favourite repast after a journey; and whilst the tea was drawing, Mrs. Dodd looked over the card-tray and enumerated the visitors that had called during their absence. “Dr. Short-- Mr. Osmond--Mrs. Hetherington--Mr. Alfred Hardie--Lady Dewry--Mrs. and Miss Bosanquet. What a pity Edward was not at home, dear; Mr. Alfred Hardie's visit must have been to him.” “Oh, of course, mamma.” “A very manly young gentleman.” “'Oh, yes. No. He is so rude.” “Is he? Ah! he was ill just then, and pain irritates gentlemen; they are not accustomed to it, poor Things.” “That is like you, dear mamma; making excuses for one.” Julia added faintly, “But he is so impetuous.”