Quoth Dr. Buisson: "You have already sighed a great deal too much. You have overtaxed your strength. You must not live on passion, but you ought to take life more easily, young man. Rest and cheerfulness, with a few bottles of physic, will put you on your legs again. Stimulants would benefit you."
"I do not wish to drink any alcohol," interrupted Frank.
"Who talks about alcohol? Do without stimulants. You do not need them."
"I thought——" began Frank.
The grave voice of the doctor interrupted him. "Young man, you must be careful about your diet; eat slowly—masticate well. Pass into the dispensing room."
"What an odd man," thought Frank, as he wended towards his home.
He passed the next few weeks resting nearly all the time, taking very little exercise and a great deal of physic. He gradually grew better, his nervousness ceased, his heart resumed its normal condition, it palpitated no more.
He tried to be cheerful, but he still had great faith in pessimism.