"Wait a few years!" he exclaimed, impatiently, "when every minute spent away from her appears a century! It's very plain you are not in love."
"In the meantime," I said, "content yourself with a life of flesh like any other rational mortal."
He began to reflect upon my words, so I thought I would improve the opportunity, and, if possible, try and make him turn human, so I observed,
"I shall not be here to-morrow; I am going to visit Miss Edith. Shall I take her any message?"
"Oh, yes, doctor, certainly, by all means; that is, I'll write. Give me some paper, pen and ink."
Having handed him these materials, he sat up in bed and penned an epistle to his lady-love in the flesh, which he sealed and handed to me.
I assured him of its safety in my hands, and took my leave of him for some days, hoping to find him more reconciled to humanity on my return.
Having given the parents of Charles further instructions with regard to their son, I took my departure, and shortly afterwards taking the stage, was en route for my friend's country seat, where I arrived early the next morning.
"And how is our patient?" I asked, as I shook hands with my friend at the threshold.
"I fancy she sleeps sounder, doctor," he replied. "We are not so often disturbed by her talking in her sleep."