round to assist the operation, with an air which the Doctor would have
found it difficult to imitate, and walked down the street to the little
inn. Here he paid and dismissed the postilions, and shut himself up in
an apartment, ordering no one to be admitted till the Doctor should call.

The Doctor, when he returned to his patient's apartment, found his wife
in great surprise, which, as is usual with persons of her character, was
not unmixed with fear and anxiety.

"She cannot speak a word like a Christian being," said Mrs. Gray.

"I know it," said the Doctor.

"But she threeps to keep on a black fause-face, and skirls if we offer
to take it away."

"Well then, let her wear it--What harm will it do?"

"Harm, Doctor!" Was ever honest woman brought to bed with a fause-face on?"

"Seldom, perhaps. But, Jean, my dear, those who are not quite honest
must be brought to bed all the same as those who are, and we are not to
endanger the poor thing's life by contradicting her whims at present."

Approaching the sick woman's bed, he observed that she indeed wore a thin
silk mask, of the kind which do such uncommon service in the elder comedy;
such as women of rank still wore in travelling, but certainly never in the
situation of this poor lady. It would seem she had sustained importunity
on the subject, for when she saw the Doctor, she put her hand to her face,
as if she was afraid he would insist on pulling off the vizard.