ollows in the same track. It is their pleasure to fancy themselves
invalids to a degree and in a manner never experienced by others; but,
from a state of exquisite pain and utter prostration, Diana Parker can
always rise to be officious in the concerns of all her acquaintance, and
to make incredible exertions where they are not wanted.

It would seem that they must be always either very busy for the good of
others, or else extremely ill themselves. Some natural delicacy of
constitution, in fact, with an unfortunate turn for medicine, especially
quack medicine, had given them an early tendency at various times to
various disorders. The rest of their suffering was from their own fancy,
the love of distinction, and the love of the wonderful. They had
charitable hearts and many amiable feelings; but a spirit of restless
activity, and the glory of doing more than anybody else, had a share in
every exertion of benevolence, and there was vanity in all they did, as
well as in all they endured.

These peculiarities come out in the following letter of Diana Parker to
her brother:--

'MY DEAR TOM,--We were much grieved at your accident, and if you had
not described yourself as having fallen into such very good hands, I
should have been with you at all hazards the day after receipt of your
letter, though it found me suffering under a more severe attack than
usual of my old grievance, spasmodic bile, and hardly able to crawl
from my bed to the sofa. But how were you treated? Send me more
particulars in your next. If indeed a simple sprain, as you
denominate it, nothing would have been so judicious as
friction--friction by the hand alone, supposing it could be applied
_immediately_. Two years ago I happened to be calling on Mrs.
Sheldon, when her coachman sprained his foot, as he was cleaning the
carriage, and could hardly limp into the house; but by the immediate
use of friction alone, steadily persevered in (I rubbed his ancle with
my own hands for four hours without intermission), he was well in
three days. . . . Pray never run into peril again in looking for an
apothecary on our account; for had you the most experienced man in his
line settled at Sanditon, it would be no recommendation to us. We
have entirely done with the whole medical tribe. We have consulted
physician after physician in vain, till we are quite convinced that
they can do nothing for us, an