"I am afraid, doctor, that you are inclined to flatter me," replied Mrs. Henderson; "though indeed, I must say, that I do feel better than I have for some days past."
"Undoubtedly, madam, it is absolutely impossible in the nature of things that you should not be better. A few more diurnal revolutions of the terraqueous globe will suffice for effecting a perfect sanification; and I confidently suspect that you will shortly be able to dismiss your physician." Then with a change of tone, time, cadence, and aspect, the eloquent physician added, "But I hope and trust, madam, that though the physician be no longer needed, the friend will not be dismissed."
Mrs. Henderson had been accustomed to Dr. Crack's peculiar style and language of conversation, and could readily translate his expressions. She therefore very politely replied to the doctor's wish that he might visit the house as a friend, and acknowledged herself honored by his attentions.
This last sentence had scarcely been uttered and answered, when Mr. Henderson himself made his appearance. To him the doctor rose, and bowed with almost unusual elegance and pomposity; and after the ordinary words of meeting had been spoken, Dr. Crack said,
"I have unspeakable pleasure and delight, sir, in communicating to you the highly interesting and encouraging information, that Mrs. Henderson may now consider herself advancing very rapidly towards a state of convalescence. It also gives me great pleasure to see you in the possession and enjoyment of health, which is indeed one of the greatest, if not the very greatest blessing which frail mortals can enjoy."
"I thank you, doctor," replied Mr. Henderson; "I do indeed enjoy a tolerably good state of health."
"That, sir, is a matter of very great importance, not to yourself only, but to the world. The polished part of society must feel infinitely indebted to you for the recommendation and attraction which your fine taste gives to religious services. I look upon religion as an affair of great and serious moment; but too often the ear is offended by coarseness and inelegance of manner, whereby the more cultivated are deterred from attending the service at church. But when that service is performed as at your chapel, and when elegance is combined with exhortation, and our taste is gratified while our souls are purified, then is an attendance on service at church most delightful as well as profitable."
There are some compliments in which sublimity, beauty, propriety, and good taste, are so intimately and ingeniously blended, that no verbal acknowledgment can be made of them; and they are only to be answered by an humble bow which speaks gratitude, and a smile of diffidence which seems to deny the full and total applicability of the said compliment to the humble individual to whom it is addressed. Whether this were the feeling of Mr. Henderson on the present occasion, or whether he thought that Dr. Crack was a great puppy, we cannot say; we only know that Mr. Henderson made a bow, and that, as he bowed, a slight smile played on his features rather indicative of incredulity, or some such feeling.