d if in early life we may have formed attachments imprudent
attachments." Here her Ladyship, who had unwittingly glided from the
consideration of Sir Stafford's case to that of her own, became confused
and flurried, her cheek flushing and her chest heaving. She looked
overwhelmed with embarrassment, and it was only after a long struggle to
regain the lost clew to her discourse she could falteringly say, "Don't
you agree with me? I 'm sure you agree with me."

"I 'm certain I should if I only understood you aright," said he,
good-naturedly, and by his voice and look at once reassuring her.

"Well, so far, all is settled," said she, rising from her chair. "And
now for this letter; I conclude the sooner it be done the better. When
may we hope to get away from this dreary place?"

"Grounsell tells me, by Friday or Saturday next I shall be able for the
journey."

"If it had not been to provoke me, I 'm certain he would have pronounced
you quite well ten days ago."

"You forget, Hester, my own sensations not to say sufferings could
scarcely deceive me."

"On the contrary, Dr. Clarus assured me there is nothing in the world so
very deceptive; that pain is only referred to the diseased part by the
brain, and has no existence whatever, and that there is no such thing as
pain at all. He explained it perfectly, and I understood it all at the
time. He is so clever, Dr. Clarus, and gives people such insight into
the nature of their malady, that it really becomes quite interesting to
be ill under his care. I remember when William, the footman, broke his
arm, Clarus used to see him every day; and to show that no union, as it
is called, could take place so long as motion continued, he would gently
grate the fractured ends of the bone together."

"And was William convinced of the no-pain doctrine?" cried Sir Stafford,
his cheek flashing with momentary anger.

"The ignorant creature actually screamed out every time he was touched;
but Clarus said it would take at least two centuries to conquer the
prejudices of the common people."

"Not improbable, either!" said Sir Stafford.

"Dear me, how very late it is," cried she, suddenly; "and we dine at
six!" And with a graceful motion of the hand, she said, "By-by!" and
left the room.

CHAPTER XVI. THE "SAAL" OF THE "RUSSIE."

HAS the observant reader ever remarked a couple of persons parading the
deck of a ship at sea, walking step for step through half a day, turning
with