ctful inquiry whether the facts were as she
represented them to be. I believe that, for the most part, they were
satisfied with the treatment.

But the girl herself was not satisfied. She could not leave the house
without help; and yet it was easy to see that she was determined not to
remain. She preferred, as she said, to die. Everybody seemed to pity
her, despite of her unreasonableness, and the more for her
unreasonableness. Her friends assured her that this treatment of mine
afforded her the last chance of recovery, and begged her not to decide
to leave us too hastily. It was all to no purpose, however; she said she
preferred death in the street to a cure at my hands.

There had been serious difficulty about her diet. I had strenuously
forbidden the use of certain condiments which I thought injurious to
her, but which she was resolutely determined to have. At first, a few
things prepared to her taste had been smuggled in by certain psuedo
friends; but this, when discovered, was absolutely prohibited.

One evening, just at dark, some of her friends called to see her and
me. They found me in the sitting-room. We had a short conversation
concerning the patient, in which they were made most distinctly to
understand that they must either leave her to be treated wholly
according to my discretion or remove her. They were left at a loss what
course was best; but at length, in compliance with her clamors, they
placed her in their carriage and carried her away.

This was both the first and last patient that ever ran away from me, or
that ever appeared to be desirous of doing so. On the whole, though no
one pitied her more than myself, I was glad when she was gone. She was
hardly worth curing. I never heard from her more, except vaguely, some
time afterward, that she was dead, which was probably correct. Most
certainly I could not have lived long, in her circumstances.

I was very unwise in taking the charge of her, or, at least, in
retaining her a moment after she refused to obey me. However, I had my
reward. The public not being possessed of all the facts in the case,
probably lost confidence in me. It was proper that they should. He who
takes a viper to his bosom, must not be surprised if he suffers the
natural consequences of his presumption.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

HEALTH HOSPITALS.

Some of my friends, fully aware of my strong reliance on the
recuperative powers of nature, and of my growing scepticism in reg