When a man’s a little bit poorly, Makes a fuss, wants a nurse, Thinks he’s going to die most surely, Sends for the doctor who makes him worse. You know the lines, but whether by the Bard of Avon, or by Chalker in his "Canterbury Tales," I cannot recall. Poor Orange! What a state of mind she will be in!’ ’I dare say,’ said the Captain, composedly. ’The child will be half mad with alarm. What does the doctor say? What has he given you? Something stinging or routing, eh?’ ’I have not sent for him.’ ’Not sent for the doctor? By Grogs! and you seriously ill. How do you know but that it may interfere with your marriage on the eighth?’ ’That is what I have been supposing.’ ’You must get well, my dear boy. You positively must.’ ’I hope so, but that does not altogether depend on me.’ ’I insist on a doctor being sent for.’ ’His coming will be of no use. I know my own constitution.’ ’Have you sent word to Orange?’ ’No, I left that for you. You see I am in bed, and I cannot write. I don’t think the people of the inn would permit it, lest I should ink the sheets. Salts of lemon are not always satisfactory in removing stains.’ ’Orange will be heartbroken.’ ’The recuperative power of the female heart cannot be overestimated.’ ’Mrs. Trampleasure will be in such distress, she will do nothing but cry——’ ’And sniff. I say, father-in-law that want to be, how goes Ophir?’ ’Oh, my dear boy! magnificently.’ ’Like the Laira at Plymouth?—eh, father-in-law elect?’ ’What do you mean?’ ’The rendezvous of all the gulls in the Western counties. Only, with this difference, the gulls go to the Laira for what they can get, and they come to Ophir for what they can give.’ ’I do not like these flippant jokes,’ said Tramplara, puffing and waxing red. ’The joke is too near the truth. You see, father-in-law prospective, I have been in Exeter, and have talked Ophir over with lawyers, bankers, mining agents, and men of the world.’ ’Well?’ ’And I find that the general verdict on Ophir is, that it is a —— swindle.’ Tramplara stamped, turned purple in face, and strode up and down the room. ’You insult me. Look at my white hairs. This is an outrage on my character, on my age. Do you dare to say that an old man like me, with one foot in eternity, would—would——’ ’Reserve that for the Flamanks,’ said the Captain; ’it is an argument without weight with me.’ ’This is intolerable. You wish to break off connection with me.’ ’Not at all,’ said the Captain, smiling and twisting his fair moustache. ’I am only telling you what is said in Exeter about Ophir. My own opinion is inchoate. Sometimes I am inclined to believe in the genuineness of the article, but generally, I admit, what I admire most is not its genuineness, but the skill with which a spurious article is disposed of.’ ’You have seen the gold?’ ’But I have not found it.’