to that particular branch of it called surgery. After three years of
unremitting study at one of the great London hospitals, I started in
practice for myself. Once more, my persistent luck was faithful to me at
the outset of my new career.

"The winter of that year was remarkable for alternate extremes of frost
and thaw. Accidents to passengers in the streets were numerous; and one
of them happened close to my own door. A gentleman slipped on the icy
pavement, and broke his leg. On sending news of the accident to his
house, I found that my chance-patient was a nobleman.

"My lord was so well satisfied with my services that he refused to be
attended by any of my elders and betters in the profession. Little did I
think at the time, that I had received the last of the favours which
Fortune was to bestow on me. I enjoyed the confidence and goodwill of a
man possessing boundless social influence; and I was received most kindly
by the ladies of his family. In one word, at the time when my
professional prospects justified the brightest hopes that I could form,
sudden death deprived me of the dearest and truest of all friends--I
suffered the one dreadful loss which it is impossible to replace, the
loss of my mother. We had parted at night when she was, to all
appearance, in the enjoyment of her customary health. The next morning,
she was found dead in her bed.

IV

"Keen observers, who read these lines, will remark that I have said
nothing about the male members of my family, and that I have even passed
over my father with the briefest possible allusion to his death.