"
He spoke laughingly, but it was plain he was serious. He continued:--
"People are always coming to me who want crossing, or change, if you
prefer it, and who I know have not money enough to let them get away from
London. This has set me thinking how I can best cross them even if they
cannot leave home, and I have made a list of cheap London amusements
which I recommend to my patients; none of them cost more than a few
shillings or take more than half a day or a day."
I explained that there was no occasion to consider money in this case.
"I am glad of it," he said, still laughing. "The homoeopathists use
_aurum_ as a medicine, but they do not give it in large doses enough; if
you can dose your young friend with this pretty freely you will soon
bring him round. However, Mr Pontifex is not well enough to stand so
great a change as going abroad yet; from what you tell me I should think
he had had as much change lately as is good for him. If he were to go
abroad now he would probably be taken seriously ill within a week. We
must wait till he has recovered tone a little more. I will begin by
ringing my London changes on him."
He thought a little and then said:--
"I have found the Zoological Gardens of service to many of my patients.
Pages:
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601