that you will need much patience and perseverance."

"How soon do you think you can cure me?"

The doctor looked into Sophie's face, and his eyes were pitiful.

"I wish I could say, but I fear that's impossible. Different people are
affected by different cures. You must go on experimenting until you
find one that will suit your case; meanwhile there are certain definite
instructions which you would do well to observe. In what part of London
do you live?" He pursed-up his lips at the reply. "Clay! Heavy clay.
The worst thing you could have. That must be altered at once. It is
essential that you live on light, gravelly soil, and even then you
should not be in England in winter. You should go abroad for four or
five months."

Sophie cast a lightning glance at her companion. "It's impossible!" she
said shortly. "I can't move. I can't go abroad. I am a High School-
mistress. I am obliged to stay at my work. I am dependent on my
salary. I knew it was stupid to come. I knew what you would say. I
told my friend. It was her doing. She made me come--"

"I am very much indebted to your friend," the doctor said genially.
"She was quite right to insist that you should have advice, and now that
I know the circumstances, I'll try not to be unreasonable. I know how
aggravating it must be to be ordered to do things which are clearly
impossible; but you are young, and you are threatened with a disease
which may cripple your life. I want to do all that is in my power to
help you. Let's talk it over quietly, and see what can be done."

"I'm in school every day until half-past four, except on Saturdays, and
I can't afford to wait. I _must_ get better, and I must be quick about
it, or I shall lose my post. If I leave this school through rheumatism,
it will go down in my testimonial, and I should never get another
opening. I'm the Gym. mistress."

"Poor girl!" said the doctor kindly. "Well," he added, "I can say one
thing for your encouragement; you could not help yourself more than by
preserving your present attitude of mind. To determine to get better,
and to get better quickly, is a very valuable aid to material means.
And now I will tell you what I propose."

He bent forward in his chair, talking earnestly and rapidly. There was
no time to be lost, since the disease was apt to take sudden leaps
forward; at this stage every day was of value; the enemy must be
attacked before he had made good his hold.