e in the Net-room, which I am persuaded hurts you. I
told you I was sure the _Dust_ of the nets hurt you: and (oddly
enough) the first thing I saw, on opening a Paper here on my return,
was a Report on the influence of _Dust_ in causing Disease. I hope
you have seen the Doctor and told him all--about last Summer's
Illness. Let me hear what he says. I should have advised
_Worthington_, but he is very expensive. One thing I am sure of: _the
more you eat_, _and the less you drink_, _the better_."

Even here, when Posh had obviously gone beyond his rights and bought
another boat without consultation with his capitalist partner, FitzGerald
shows his anxiety and solicitude for the man.

There _is_ a good deal of dust flying about the net chambers; for the
cutch and oil and thread all shred off and poison the air. "Why," said
Posh the other day, "he bought me one o' them things that goo oover the
mouth" (a respirator), "but lor! I should ha' been ashamed ta be seed a
wearin' on it!"

Dr. Worthington referred to in the letter is one of a long line of
medical practitioners, and was the Lowestoft medical attendant of
FitzGerald himself. I have experienced great kindness from both this Dr.
Worthington and his son Dr. Dick Worthington. The former tells me that
FitzGerald would never enter his house, but would stand on the doorstep
to consult. He had no objection to the doctor entering his
(FitzGerald's) lodgings, and on one occasion when Dr. Worthington called
on him at 12 Marine Terrace the doctor saw all his medicine bottles
unopened in a row. "You know this isn't fair to me," said the justly
irritated doctor. "I do what I can for you, and you won't take my
medicines." "My dear doctor," said FitzGerald, "it does me good to see
you."

Dr. Aldis Wright says that this is merely an instance of FitzGerald's
rule that he would never enter the house of his equal. Of course his
"social" equal is inferred, for the rule would have been unnecessary if
the "equal" bore another significance. His inferiors in station he would
visit and charm by his manner and speech. But the house of a society
equal he avoided, lest he should be compelled, for mere courtesy, to go
where he would not.

I have, of course, chuckled over the opinion that Dr. Worthington senior
was "very expensive." But I believe that FitzGerald was one of those (I
might almost say "of us") who regarded all doctor's bills as luxuries! At