Part 2 (1/2)
”In the Bay of Biscay she lay half a point nearer the wind than Lord Heavyjib.”
”Oh! bother Lord Heavyjib, and his Bay of Biscay.”
”With all my heart, they have often bothered me.”
”Send her round to Granton Pier, in the Firth of Forth.”
”I will, sir.”
”And write down this prescription.” And away he walked again, thinking the prescription.
”Saunders,” appealed his master.
”Saunders be hanged.”
”Sir!” said Saunders, with dignity, ”I thank you.”
”Don't thank me, thank your own deserts,” replied the modern Chesterfield. ”Oblige me by writing it yourself, my lord, it is all the bodily exercise you will have had to-day, no doubt.”
The young viscount bowed, seated himself at a desk, and wrote from dictation:
”DR. ABERFORD'S PRESCRIPTION.”
”Make acquaintance with all the people of low estate who have time to be bothered with you; learn their ways, their minds, and, above all, their troubles.”
”Won't all this bore me?” suggested the writer.
”You will see. Relieve one fellow-creature every day, and let Mr.
Saunders book the circ.u.mstances.”
”I shall like this part,” said the patient, laying down his pen. ”How clever of you to think of such things; may not I do two sometimes?”
”Certainly not; one pill per day. Write, Fish the herring! (that beats deer-stalking.) Run your nose into adventures at sea; live on tenpence, and earn it. Is it down?”
”Yes, it is down, but Saunders would have written it better.”
”If he hadn't he ought to be hanged,” said the Aberford, inspecting the work. ”I'm off, where's my hat? oh, there; where's my money? oh, here.
Now look here, follow my prescription, and You will soon have Mens sana in corpore sano; And not care whether the girls say yes or say no; neglect it, and--my gloves; oh, in my pocket--you will be _blase'_ and _ennuye',_ and (an English participle, that means something as bad); G.o.d bless you!”
And out he scuttled, glided after by Saunders, for whom he opened and shut the street door.
Never was a greater effect produced by a doctor's visit; patient and physician were made for each other. Dr. Aberford was the specific for Lord Ipsden. He came to him like a shower to a fainting strawberry.
Saunders, on his return, found his lord pacing the apartment.
”Saunders,” said he, smartly, ”send down to Gravesend and order the yacht to this place--what is it?”