"Such impious ignorance I think I never heard of!" said Miss Phoebe,
rigidly. "I should think the--a--family a most unprofitable one for
you to visit, Doctor Strong."

"But so consistent!" said Geoffrey. "Knowing their own minds, and
carrying out their own theories of hygiene. It's very refreshing, I
must admit. But"--Geoffrey saw that his hostesses were not amused,
nor anything but pained and shocked--"this is enough about Ithuriel
Butters, isn't it? We decided that he would better take a little
something dark-coloured, with a good solid smell to it, to please
his 'women-folks;' he'll go out some day like the snuff of a candle,
and he knows it. But you don't want to try the lightning cure, do you,
Miss Blyth?"

"I most certainly do not!" said Miss Phoebe, concisely; and she
reflected that even the best and most intelligent of men might often
be lacking in delicate perception.




CHAPTER V.


LETTER-WRITING AND HYSTERICS

The young doctor sat in his room writing. It was a pleasant room,
looking upon the garden, and in style and furnishing altogether to
the young doctor's taste. He liked the tall narrow mantel, with its