"Do not you mean to leave it off?" said I.
"No."
"Do you think you could not?"
"I could; but it would take three weeks to cure myself; and during that time I could do nothing; and I cannot afford that. I could not learn my lessons without it, and the loss of three weeks would injure all my prospects in life."
"Hardly so fatally as the ruin of your health, I should think. Is your case a common one here?"
"Too common. But I assure you I do all I can to prevent the bad consequences of my own example. I warn my juniors, as they come in, very seriously."
"Do you find your warnings of much use?"
"I am afraid not much."
"They have the usual fate of mere precept, I suppose?"
"Yes, I am afraid so."