"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