t idea how to take care of yourself,
it's extraordinary how people go about the world one mass of imprudence.
Have the kindness to stand up for a moment. Now draw a long breath.
Hum--hum--I thought so; no absolute harm done as yet." And the Doctor
tapped and listened, and tapped and listened again, with as much
interest as though the suspected chest had belonged to a southern Kirby
instead of to a Jeremiah from Maine. "That will do; thank you. You must
come and see me this very afternoon; come about five. I shall give you
some rules to follow. One of the first will be that you live more
generously, enjoy yourself more (you northerners don't seem to know
how). Never fear, man; we'll build you up in a few months so that you
won't know yourself!" And cordially shaking his hand, the Doctor took
leave--only to come back and remark, standing upon the threshold, with a
full return of his majestic manner, "But I should advise you, sir--I
should most seriously advise you to relinquish all connection with the
scandalous claims masquerading under that fraudulent name--that name of
Increase Kittredge!"

He departed, and returned again briskly, to say in his pleasantest
voice: "Oh, by-the-way, I'm going to send you some sound wine--port; I
have a little left. Be good enough to take it according to the
directions." And this time he was really gone.

In the mean while all Gracias congratulated Mrs. Thorne. That lady bore
herself with much propriety under the altered aspect of her affairs.
There were advantages in it, she said with a sigh, which of course she
appreciated; still, it was impossible for her to think without sadness
of "the severing of old associations" which such a change must bring
about. Gracias agreed with her there--the severing would be difficult;
old associations, indeed, had always been Gracias's strong point. Still,
a good deal of breakage could be borne--it was, indeed, a duty to bear
it--when such an equivalent was to be rendered ("equivalent" was the
term they had decided upon). The equivalent--that is, the sum which
Winthrop was to pay for the plantation--was not large. But to Gracias in
its reduced state it seemed an ample fortune; Gracias wondered what Mrs.
Thorne would do with it. That lady kept her own counsel; but in private
she covered sheets of paper with her small careful figures, and pondered
over them.

To Garda the hoped-for sum represented but one word--Washington!
Winthrop had again dwelt upon