will absolve you from that vow; but bless you for
thinking this can never be. Rosa, your folly of this day has made you my
heir; so never let money tempt you, for you have enough, and will have
more than enough when I go."

He was as good as his word; altered his will next day, and made Rosa his
residuary legatee. When he had done this, foreseeing no fresh occasion
for his services, he prepared for a long visit to Italy. He was packing
up his things to go there, when he received a line from Lady Cicely
Treherne, asking him to call on her professionally. As the lady's
servant brought it, he sent back a line to say he no longer practised
medicine, but would call on her as a friend in an hour's time.

He found her reclining, the picture of lassitude. "How good of you to
come," she drawled.

"What's the matter?" said he brusquely.

"I wish to cawnsult you about myself. I think if anybody can brighten me
up, it is you. I feel such a languaw--such a want of spirit; and I get
palaa, and that is not desiwable."

He examined her tongue and the white of her eye, and told her, in his
blunt way, she ate and drank too much.

"Excuse me, sir," said she stiffly.

"I mean too often. Now, let's see. Cup of tea in bed, of a morning?"

"Yaas."

"Dinner at two?"

"We call it luncheon."

"Are you a ventriloquist?"

"No."

"Then it is only your lips call it luncheon. Your poor stomach, could it
speak, would call it dinner. Afternoon tea?"

"Yaas."

"At seven-thirty another dinner. Tea after that. Your afflicted stomach
gets no rest. You eat pastry?"

"I confess it."

"And sugar in a dozen forms?"

She nodded.

"Well, sugar is poison to your temperament. Now I'll set you up, if you
can obey. Give up your morning dram."

"What dwam?"

"Tea in bed, before eating. Can't you see that is a dram? Animal food
twice a day. No wine but a little claret and water; no pastry, no
sweets, and play battledore with one of your male subjects."

"Battledaw! won't a lady do for that?"

"No: you would get talking, and not play ad sudorem."

"Ad sudawem! what is that?"

"In earnest."

"And will sudawem and the west put me in better spiwits, and give me a
tinge?"

"It will incarnadine the lily, and make you the happiest young lady in
England, as you are the best."

"I should like to be much happier than I am good, if we could manage it
among us."

"We will manage it AMONG us; for if the diet allowed should not make you
bo