“No,” replied I, “it’s for old Ben—father’s a long way from this, I expect.”
“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 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 honour 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.”