he
said. "Why you are my beau ideal of a merchant, the Ionic capital of
the pillar of trade. Now, let not your mind be

'Tossing on the ocean;
There, where your argosies with portly sail,
Like signiors and rich burghers on the flood;
Or, as it were the pageants of the sea,
Do overpower the petty traffickers.'

Quiet, my dear boy, both of mind and body, are your indispensables. I
want you to understand that:

'I tell thee what, Antonio--
love thee, and It is my love that speaks.'"

Pownal promised to be very obedient, in consideration whereof the
doctor guaranteed he should receive great satisfaction from his wound.
"You shall see for yourself," he said, "how beautifully it will heal.
To a scientific eye, and under my instruction you shall get one, there
is something delightful in witnessing the granulations. We may say of
Nature, as Dr. Watts sings of the honey-bee:

'How skillfully she builds her cell,
How neat she stores the wax!'

I consider you a fortunate fellow."

The young men were obliged to smile at the doctor's way of viewing the
subject; but he paid little attention to their mirth.

"And I will remain, meanwhile, with you," said William Bernard, which
was the name of the gentleman who had accompanied the physician,
addressing himself to Pownal, "if our good friend,"--and here he
looked at Holden--"has no objection."

The Recluse signified his assent; and Pownal, thanking his friend, the
doctor gave his sanction to the arrangement.

"It will do you no harm, William," he said, "to rough it for a night
or two, and you will prove yourself thereby of a different stamp from
Timon's friends." And here the doctor, who loved to quote poetry,
especially Shakspeare's, better than to administer medicine, indulged
again in his favorite habit:

"'As we do turn our backs
From our companion thrown into his grave,
So his familiars, to his buried fortunes,
Slink all away; leave their false vows with him,
Like empty purses picked, and his poor self
A dedicated beggar to the air.'

But, Mr. Holden, lend me thy ears a moment, and thy tongue, too, if
you please, for you must tell me how this happened. I do not care to
disturb Pownal with the inquiry."

So saying, he walked out of the chamber, followed by the Recluse.

"Tell me first," said Holden, as they stood in the open air, "what
thou thinkest of the wound."

"Ha!" cried the doctor