his avowed dislike to the
over-tightening and squeezing of modern fashion.

As his whole life had been passed in the superintendence of a great
military hospital in the East, wherein all his conversations with his
brethren were maintained in technicalities, he had never converted the
professional jargon into a popular currency, but used the terms of art
upon all occasions, regardless of the inability of the unmedical world
to understand him.

"Well, sir, what is your report to-day?" said Lady Onslow, assuming her
very stateliest of manners.

"Better, and worse, madam. The arthritis relieved, the cardiac symptoms
more imminent.'

"Please to bear in mind, sir, that I have not studied at Apothecaries'
Hall."

"Nor I, madam; but at Edinburgh and Aberdeen, in the faculties of
medicine and surgery," said Grounsell, drawing down his waistcoat, and
arranging himself in what he considered an order of battle.

"Is papa better, doctor?" said Sydney, mildly.

"The articular affection is certainly alleviated, but there is mischief
here," said Grounsell, placing his hand over his heart; "fibrous
tissues, my dear Miss Onslow, fibrous tissues are ticklish affairs."

"Is this advice to be construed in a moral rather than a medical sense?"
said Lady Onslow, with a malicious smile.

"Either or both," replied the doctor. "The heart will always be highly
susceptible of nervous influence."

"But papa" broke in Sydney, eagerly.

"Is suffering under metastasis migratory gout, it may be termed changing
from articular to large organic structures."

"And, of course, you are giving him the old poisons that were in use
fifty years ago?"

"What do you mean, madam?" said Grounsell, sternly.

"That shocking thing that drives people mad colocynth, or colchicum, or
something like that. You know what I mean?"

"Happily for me, madam, I can guess it."

"And are you still as obstinate as ever about the globules?"

"The homoeopathic humbug?"

"If you are polite enough so to designate what I put the most implicit
trust in. But I warn you, sir, I mean to exert my just and rightful
influence with Sir Stafford; and in case a very great change does not
appear to-morrow, I shall insist upon his trying the aconite."

"If you do, madam, the insurance offices shall hear of it!" said
Grounsell, with a sternness that made the threat most significant.

"I 'll send for that man from Heidelberg at once, Sydney," said Lady
Hester, as, pale with p