The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851Various
History
The International Monthly, Volume 4, No. 2, September, 1851
Various
Art, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Science -- History -- Periodicals
The door was flung widely open, and in, unannounced, walked Dr Morgan.
The child turned to him, and at the sight of his face she remembered
her father; and the tears that, for Leonard's sake, she had been
trying to suppress, found way.
The good Doctor soon gained all the confidence of these two young
hearts. And, after listening to Leonard's story of his paradise lost
in a day, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Well, you will call
on me on Monday, and we will see. Meanwhile, borrow these of me,"--and
he tried to slip three sovereigns into the boy's hand. Leonard was
indignant. The bookseller's warning flashed on him. Mendicancy! Oh no,
he had not yet come to that! He was almost rude and savage in his
rejection; and the Doctor did not like him the less for it.
"You are an obstinate mule," said the homoeopathist, reluctantly
putting up his sovereigns. "Will you work at something practical and
prosy, and let the poetry rest awhile?"
"Yes," said Leonard doggedly, "I will work."
"Very well, then. I know an honest bookseller, and he shall give you
some employment; and meanwhile, at all events, you will be among
books, and that will be some comfort."
Leonard's eyes brightened--"A great comfort, sir." He pressed the hand
he had before put aside to his grateful heart.
"But," resumed the Doctor seriously, "you really feel a strong
predisposition to make verses?"
"I did, sir."
"Very bad symptom indeed, and must be stopped before a relapse! Here,
I have cured three prophets and ten poets with this novel specific."
While thus speaking, he had got out his book and a globule. "_Agaricus
muscarius_ dissolved in a tumbler of distilled water--tea-spoonful
whenever the fit comes on. Sir, it would have cured Milton himself."
"And now for you, my child," turning to Helen--"I have found a lady
who will be very kind to you. Not a menial situation. She wants some
one to read to her and tend on her--she is old and has no children.
She wants a companion, and prefers a girl of your age to one older.
Will this suit you?"
Leonard walked away.
Helen got close to the Doctor's ear, and whispered, "No, I cannot
leave _him_ now--he is so sad."
"Cott!" grunted the Doctor, "you two must have been reading _Paul and
Virginia_. If I could but stay in England, I would try what _ignatia_
would do in this case--interesting experiment! Listen to me--little
girl; and go out of the room, you, sir."
Leonard, averting his face, obeyed. Helen made an involuntary step
after him--the Doctor detained and drew her on his knee.
"What is your Christian name?--I forget."
"Helen."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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