The sister arriv'd at the door in a trice, And the man that was waiting she look'd at twice: From the crown of his hat to the sole of his shoe, She look'd at him twice, as she'd look him all through. That hat was low and its brim was wide, But the sleep-walker's sister was not inside: And his coat was black and his breeches were gray, And look'd as a thriving practitioner's may. His bosom was clothed in a sombre vest, That aptly comported with all the rest; Each pocket contriv'd of an ample space For holding a portable instrument-case: But, far more than breeches, hat, waist-coat or coat, His own proper features seem'd worthy of note. His locks were grizzled, his beard it was spare, As he dieted ev'ry particular hair; From a long, long nose, one could fancy how well Its owner could practise his organs of smell; For it seem'd, as he breath'd atmospherical air, He perceiv'd what its physical properties were. His eye with occasional glances by stealth, Was plainly surveying one's bodily health; And in his thin fingers, there seem'd to exist A perpetual impulse to feel of one's wrist. Whatever he utter'd, his look was profound, And an odor of sanity breath'd all around. No difficult matter it was to see, That a person of science and skill was he. Giving time for those matters that pass between A bachelor-man and a girl of eighteen, And a moment beside for her womanish airs, We find him ascending the sleep-walker's stairs. With gentlest tread, as if ever before He had practised his steps on a sick-chamber floor, His handkerchief-parcel, conveniently small, He laid on a chair, with the knots tow'rd the wall. The maiden insisting on taking his hat, He enter'd the room where the sleep-walker sat: A neat-looking woman, and fair to behold, And (climax of qualities) not at all old. Her accents and manner were wondrously sweet, As she kindly invited his taking a seat, And sweetly she said what she had to say Of the weather and wind, in a diffident way. And then he presented himself by his name, And hinted the matter about which he came; He harp'd upon science, and physic, and food, Incidentally hoping he did not intrude, And then, (what all orators well understand,) Digress'd to the subject directly in hand. What was it the sister spoke low in her ear, It was plain she alone was intended to hear. But little the medical gentleman cared, Commencing a speech he had ready prepar'd.