thing in the way of drink? Come, Mrs Jellybags, no disguise,--tell the
truth;--no soup--warm jelly--heh?

JEL. No, sir; upon my word, he has had nothing.

GUM. Humph?--and yet feels no stronger? Well, that's odd!--Has he
taken the pill every half-hour?

JEL. Yes, sir, regularly.

GUM. And feels no better! Are you sure that he has had his draught
with his pill?

JEL. Every time, sir.

GUM. And feels no better! Well, that's odd!--very odd, indeed!
(_Rises and comes forward with_ Mrs JELLYBAGS.) We must throw in some
more draughts, Mrs Jellybags; there is no time to be lost.

JEL. I am afraid he's much worse, sir.

GUM. I am not at all afraid of it, Mrs Jellybags,--I am sure of it;--
it's very odd,--but the fact is, that all the physic in the world won't
save him; but still he must take it,--because--physic was made to be
taken.

JEL. Very true, sir. (_Whispers to_ GUMARABIC.)

GUM. Ah! yes;--very proper. (_Going to_ Mr CADAVEROUS.) My dear sir,
I have done my best; nevertheless, you are ill,--very ill,--which is
odd,--very odd! It is not pleasant,--I may say, very unpleasant,--but
if you have any little worldly affairs to settle,--will to make,--or a
codocil to add, in favour of your good nurse, your doctor, or so on,--it
might be as well to send for your lawyer;--there is no saying, but,
during my practice, I have sometimes found that people die. After all
the physic you have taken, it certainly is odd--very odd--very odd,
indeed;--but you might die to-morrow.

CAD. Oh dear!--I'm very ill.

JEL. (_sobbing_.) Oh dear! oh dear!--he's very ill.

GUM. (_comes forward, shrugging up his shoulders_.) Yes; he is ill--
very ill;--to-morrow, dead as mutton! At all events he has not died for
want of physic. We must throw in some more draughts immediately;--no
time to be lost. Life is short,--but my bill will be long--very long!

[_Exit as scene closes_.]
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Act 2.

SCENE 1.--_Enter_ CLEMENTINA, _with a letter in her hand_.

CLEM. I have just received a letter from my dear Edward: he knows of my
uncle's danger, and is anxious to see me. I expect him immediately. I
hope he will not be seen by Mrs Jellybags as he comes in, for she would
try to make more mischief than than she has already. Dear Edward! how
he loves me! (_Kisses the letter_.)

_Enter_ EDWARD.

E