"And now will you oblige me with a cigar?" said the doctor. "I think this is the sixth, is it not, Mrs St. Felix? so here's my shilling." "Really, doctor, if it were not that the wry faces I make at physic would spoil my beauty, I'm almost in honour bound to send for something to take out of your shop, just by the way of return for your patronage." "I trust you will never require it, Mrs St. Felix. I've no objection to your sending for anything you please, but don't take physic." "Well, my girl Jane shall have a dose, I declare, she is getting so fat and lumpy. Only don't let it be laudanum, doctor, she's so sleepy-headed already. I told her this morning that she was looking pale, just by way of preparing her." "Mrs St. Felix, you must excuse me, but you've no right to interfere with my practice. I prescribe physic when I think it necessary, and Jane is perfectly well at present, and shall not have any." "And you've no right to interfere with my household, doctor. If I choose, I'll physic Jane, and the dog, and the cat, and the kitten, which I reckon to be the whole of my establishment, all four of them on the same day. Tell me, doctor, how much ipecacuanha will make a kitten sick?" "Mrs St. Felix, I am not a veterinary surgeon, and therefore cannot answer." "Veterinary! Well, I thought they only doctored horses." "I beg your pardon, their practice extends further, as I can prove to you. I was once at the establishment of one in London, and I observed in a large room about a dozen little lap-dogs all tied up with strings. The poor little unwieldy waddling things were sent to him because they were asthmatic, and I don't know what all; and how do you think he cured them?" "It's for me to ask that question, doctor." "Well, then, he told me his secret. He tied them all up, and gave them nothing to eat, only water to drink; and in three weeks they were returned in as beautiful condition, and as frisky as young kids. Nothing but diet, Mrs St. Felix." "I should rather think it was no diet, doctor. Well, I do declare, I'll tie up Jane for three weeks, and see if nothing but water will cure her complaints. Well, Mr Jack, why don't you take the tobacco to Ben?" "Oh! he's in at supper now; there's no hurry," replied I; "and I like to hear you talk." "Well, there'll be less scandal in your remaining to hear us than there would be if we sent you away, anyhow. How's little Miss Virginia, sister to Poor Jack?" "She's quite well, and wants to come and see you, only mother won't let her." "Many thanks to your sister for her compliment; and not forgetting your mother for hers, also. So your mother has given up `making _tay_ on reasonable terms'?" "'Cause people wouldn't come."