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would fall dead upon so fair an antagonist。 At last his eye
kindled； he had hit on an argument unscientific enough for anybody；
he thought。 Said he； ingratiatingly； 〃You believe the Old
Testament？〃
〃Of course I do； every syllable。〃
〃And the lessons it teaches？〃
〃Certainly！〃
〃Then let me tell you a story from that book。 A Syrian general had
a terrible disease。 He consulted Elisha by deputy。 Elisha said；
'Bathe seven times in a certain river； Jordan； and you will get
well。' The general did not like this at all； he wanted a
prescription； wanted to go to the druggist； didn't believe in
hydropathy to begin； and； in any case； turned up his nose at
Jordan。 What！ bathe in an Israelitish brook； when his own country
boasted noble rivers； with a reputation for sanctity into the
bargain？ In short； he preferred his leprosy to such irregular
medicine。 But it happened； by some immense fortuity； that one of
his servants； though an Oriental； was a friend； instead of a
flatterer； and this sensible fellow said； 'If the prophet told you
to do some great and difficult thing； to get rid of this fearful
malady； would not you do it； however distasteful？ and can you
hesitate when he merely says； Wash in the Jordan； and be healed？'
The general listened to good sense； and cured himself。 Your case
is parallel。 You would take quantities of foul medicine； you would
submit to some painful operation； if life and health depended on
it； then why not do a small thing for a great result？ You have
only to take off an unnatural machine which cripples your growing
frame； and was unknown to every one of the women whose forms in
Parian marble the world admires。 Off with that monstrosity； and
your cure is as certain as the Syrian general's； though science；
and not inspiration； dictates the easy remedy。〃
Rosa had listened impatiently； and now replied with some warmth；
〃This is shockingly profane。 The idea of comparing yourself to
Elisha； and me to a horrid leper！ Much obliged！ Not that I know
what a leper is。〃
〃Come； come！ that is not fair；〃 said Mr。 Lusignan。 〃He only
compared the situation； not the people。〃
〃But； papa； the Bible is not to be dragged into the common affairs
of life。〃
〃Then what on earth is the use of it？〃
〃Oh； papa！ Well； it is not Sunday； but I have had a sermon。 This
is the clergyman； and you are the commentatorhe！ he！ And so now
let us go back from divinity to medicine。 I repeat〃 （this was the
first time she had said it） 〃that my other doctors give me real
prescriptions； written in hieroglyphics。 You can't look at them
without feeling there MUST be something in them。〃
An angry spot rose on Christopher's cheek； but he only said； 〃And
are your other doctors satisfied with the progress your disorder is
making under their superintendence？〃
〃Perfectly！ Papa； tell him what they say； and I'll find him their
prescriptions。〃 She went to a drawer； and rummaged； affecting not
to listen。
Lusignan complied。 〃First of all； sir； I must tell you they are
confident it is not the lungs； but the liver。〃
〃The what！〃 shouted Christopher。
〃Ah！〃 screamed Rosa。 〃Oh； don't！bawling！〃
〃And don't you screech；〃 said her father； with a look of misery and
apprehension impartially distributed on the resounding pair。
〃You must have misunderstood them；〃 murmured Staines； in a voice
that was now barely audible a yard off。 〃The hemorrhage of a
bright red color； and expelled without effort or nausea？〃
〃From the liverthey have assured me again and again；〃 said
Lusignan。
Christopher's face still wore a look of blank amazement； till Rosa
herself confirmed it positively。
Then he cast a look of agony upon her； and started up in a passion；
forgetting once more that his host abhorred the sonorous。 〃Oh；
shame！ shame！〃 he cried； 〃that the noble profession of medicine
should be disgraced by ignorance such as this。〃 Then he said；
sternly； 〃Sir； do not mistake my motives； but I decline to have
anything further to do with this case； until those two gentlemen
have been relieved of it； and； as this is very harsh； and on my
part unprecedented； I will give you one reason out of many I COULD
give you。 Sir； there is no road from the liver to the throat by
which blood can travel in this way； defying the laws of gravity；
and they knew； from the patient； that no strong expellent force has
ever been in operation。 Their diagnosis； therefore； implies
agnosis； or ignorance too great to be forgiven。 I will not share
my patient with two gentlemen who know so little of medicine； and
know nothing of anatomy； which is the A B C of medicine。 Can I see
their prescriptions？〃
These were handed to him。 〃Good heavens！〃 said he； 〃have you taken
all these？〃
〃Most of them。〃
〃Why； then you have drunk about two gallons of unwholesome liquids；
and eaten a pound or two of unwholesome solids。 These medicines
have co…operated with the malady。 The disorder lies； not in the
hemorrhage； but in the precedent extravasation that is a drain on
the system； and how is the loss to be supplied？ Why； by taking a
little more nourishment than before； there is no other way； and
probably Nature； left to herself； might have increased your
appetite to meet the occasion。 But those two worthies have struck
that weapon out of Nature's hand； they have peppered away at the
poor ill…used stomach with drugs and draughts； not very deleterious
I grant you； but all more or less indigestible； and all tending；
not to whet the appetite； but to clog the stomach； or turn the
stomach； or pester the stomach； and so impair the appetite； and so
co…operate； indirectly； with the malady。〃
〃This is good sense；〃 said Lusignan。 〃I declare； II wish I knew
how to get rid of them。〃
〃Oh； I'll do that； papa。〃
〃No； no； it is not worth a rumpus。〃
〃I'll do it too politely for that。 Christopher； you are very
cleverTERRIBLY clever。 Whenever I threw their medicines away； I
was always a little better that day。 I will sacrifice them to you。
It IS a sacrifice。 They are both so kind and chatty； and don't
grudge me hieroglyphics； now you do。〃
She sat down and wrote two sweet letters to Dr。 Snell and Mr。
Wyman； thanking them for the great attention they had paid her； but
finding herself getting steadily worse； in spite of all they had
done for her； she proposed to discontinue her medicines for a time；
and try change of air。
〃And suppose they call to see whether you are changing the air？〃
〃In that case； papa'not at home。'〃
The notes were addressed and despatched。
Then Dr。 Staines brightened up； and said to Lusignan； 〃I am now
happy to tell you that I have overrated the malady。 The sad change
I see in Miss Lusignan is partly due to the great bulk of
unwholesome esculents she has been eating and drinking under the
head of medicines。 These discontinued； she might linger on for
years； existing； though not livingthe tight…laced cannot be said
to live。 But if she would be healthy and happy； let her throw that
diabolical machine into the fire。 It is no use asking her to
loosen it； she can't。 Once there； the temptation is too strong。
Off with it； and； take my word； you wi