"Opinionated? So is ivery man who has grounnds for his opinin. D'ye
think, because Dockers Short, an' Bist, an' Kinyon, an' Cuckoo, an'
Jackdaw, an' Starling, an' Co., don't know the dire effecks of calomel
an' drastics on the buddy, I don't know't? Her eye, her tongue, her skin,
her voice, her elastic walk, all tell _me_ she has not been robbed of her
vital resources. 'Why, if she had taken that genteel old thief Short's
rimidies alone, the girl's gums would be sore,

And herself at Dith's door."

Mrs. Dodd was amused. "Julia, this is so like the gentlemen; they are in
love with argumeunt.They go on till they reason themselves out of their
reason. Why beat about the bush; when there she sits?"

"What, go t' a wumman for the truth, when I can go t' infallible
Inference?"

"You may always go to my David's daughter for the truth," said Mrs. Dodd,
with dignity. She then looked the inquiry; and Julia replied to her look
as follows: first, she coloured very high; then, she hid her face in both
her hands; then rose, and turning her neck swiftly, darted a glance of
fiery indignation and bitter reproach on Dr. Meddlesome, and left the
apartment mighty stag-like.

"Maircy on us!" cried Sampson. "Did ye see that, ma'am? Yon's just a
bonny basilisk. Another such thunderbolt as she dispinsed, and ye'll be
ringing for your maid to sweep up the good physician's ashes."

Julia did not return till the good physician was gone back to London.