looked upon as homicide by some people. Mr Gibson said in a dry tone,
that for his part he should not mind the imputation of homicide, but
that it would not do to make away with profitable patients in so speedy
a manner; and that he thought that as long as they were willing and
able to pay two-and-sixpence for the doctor's visit, it was his duty to
keep them alive; of course, when they became paupers the case was
different. Mr. Wynne pondered over this speech; Mr. Coxe only laughed.
At last Mr. Wynne said,--

'But you go every morning, sir, before breakfast to see old Nancy
Grant, and you've ordered her this medicine, sir, which is about the
most costly in Corbyn's bill?'

'Have you not found out how difficult it is for men to live up to their
precepts? You've a great deal to learn yet, Mr. Wynne!' said Mr Gibson,
leaving the surgery as he spoke.

'I never can make the governor out,' said Mr. Wynne, in a tone of utter
despair. 'What are you laughing at, Coxey?'

'Oh! I'm thinking how blest you are in having parents who have
instilled moral principles into your youthful bosom. You'd go and be
poisoning all the paupers off, if you hadn't been told that murder was
a crime by your mother; you'd be thinking you were doing as you were
bid, and quote old Gibson's words when you came to be tried. "Please,
my lord judge, they were not able to pay for my visits, and so I
followed the rules of the profession as taught me by Mr. Gibson, the
great surgeon at Hollingford, and poisoned the paupers."'

'I can't bear that scoffing way of his.'