"And do you intend to follow him, Jack? It's my opinion you'll be the
very revarse of a good sailor if you cruise bottom up as you did on your
first voyage."

"It's not the pleasantest way of sailing, is it, Jack?" observed the
doctor.

"Not in the winter-time," replied I.

The widow measured the length of the pigtail, as milliners do tape,
from the tip of the finger to the knuckle, and cut it off.

"And now will you oblige me with a cigar?" said the doctor. "I think
this is the sixth, is it not, Mrs. St. Felix? so here's my shilling."

"Really, doctor, if it were not that the wry faces I make at physic
would spoil my beauty, I'm almost in honor bound to send for something
to take out of your shop, just by the way of return for your patronage."

"I trust you will never require it, Mrs. St. Felix. I've no objection to
your sending for anything you please, but don't take physic."

"Well, my girl Jane shall have a dose, I declare, she is getting so fat
and lumpy. Only don't let it be laudanum, doctor, she's so sleepy-headed
already. I told her this morning that she was looking pale, just by way
of preparing her."

"Mrs. St. Felix, you must excuse me, but you've no right to interfere
with my practice. I prescribe physic when I think it necessary, and Jane
is perfectly well at present, and shall not have any."