is profession--entered the room with his
three-cocked hat under his arm, and the usual gold-headed cane in his
hand; and, after saluting the company, looked about after Manifold,
his patient. He saluted the Pythagorean, and complimented him upon his
philosophy, and the healthful habits engendered by a vegetable diet, and
so primitive a linen dress--a dress, he said, which, in addition to its
other advantages, ought to be generally adopted, if only for the sake of
its capacity for showing off the symmetry of the figure. He was himself
a warm admirer of the principle, and begged to have the honor of shaking
hands with the gentleman who had the courage to carry it out against
all the prejudices of a besotted world. He accordingly seized the
philosopher's hand, which was then in a desperately rheumatic state, as
the little scoundrel well knew, and gave it such a squeeze of respect
and admiration that the Pythagorean emitted a yell which astonished and
alarmed the whole room.

"Death and torture, sir--why did you squeeze my rheumatic hand in such a
manner?"

"Pardon me, Mr. Cooke--respect and admiration for your principles."

"Well, sir, I will thank you to express what you may feel in plain
language, but not in such damnable squeezes as that."

"Pardon me, again, sir; I was ignorant that the rheumatism was in your
hand; you know I am not your physician; perhaps if I were you could bear
a friendly shake of it without all that agony. I very much regret the
pain I unconsciously, and from motives of the highest respect, have put
you to."

"It is gone--do not mention it," said the benevolent philosopher.
"Perhaps I may try your skill some of these days."

"I assure you, sir," said Doolittle, "that I am forcing Mr. Manifold
here to avail himself of your system--a simple vegetable diet."

"O Lord!" exclaimed Manifold, in a soliloquy--for he was perfectly
unconscious of what was going on--"toast and water, toast and water!
That and a season of famine--what a prospect is before me! Doolittle
is a rat, and I will hire somebody to give him ratsbane. Nothing but a
vegetable diet, and be hanged to him! What's ratsbane an ounce?"

"You hear, sir," said Doolittle, addressing the Pythagorean; "you
perceive that I am adopting your system?"

"Mr. Doolittle," replied Cooke, "from this day forth you are my
physician--I intrust you with the management of my rheumatism; but, in
the meantime, I think the room is devilishly cold."

Cap