, replied, 'John
Abernethy.'

'Elliot. Oh, the doctor!

'Abernethy. No, not the doctor; but plain John Abernethy, if you please.

'Elliot. Ay, my stupid landlady sent for you, I suppose.

'Abernethy. To attend a very stupid patient, it would appear.

'Elliot. Well, as you are come, I suppose I must give you your fee.
(Placing the gold upon the table.)

'Abernethy (looking rather cross.) What's the matter with you?

'Elliot. Can't you see?

'Abernethy. Oh yes, I see very well; then tasting some of the liquid in
the phials, and observing the source from whence the prescriptions had
been extracted, the surgeon arrived at something that was applicable to
the disease. Who told you to take this?

'Elliot. Common sense.

'Abernethy putting his fee in his pocket, and preparing to depart. Good
day.

'Elliot (reiterating the expression.) Good day! Why, you mean to give me
some advice for my money, don't you?

'Abernethy, with the door in his hand. Follow common sense, and you'll
do very well.'

"Thus ended the interview between Abernethy and Elliot. It was the old
tale of the stammerers personified; for the professional and the patient
each conceived the other an imitator. On reaching the ground-floor
the surgeon was, however, relieved from his embarrassment by the
communication of the good woman of the house, who, in her anxiety to
serve Elliot, had produced this extraordinary scene. Abernethy
laughed heartily--assured her that the patient would do well--wrote a
prescription for him--begged ~107~~he might hear how he proceeded--and
learning he was a professional man, requested the lady of the mansion to
return him his fee."

"Ay," said the alderman, "that was just like John Abernethy. I remember
when he tapped poor Mrs. Marigold for the dropsy, he was not very
tender, to be sure, but he soon put her out of her tortures. And when
on his last visit I offered him a second twenty pound note for a fee, I
thought he would have knocked me down; asked me if I was the fool that
gave him such a sum on a former occasion; threw it back again with
indignation, and said he did not rob people in that manner." No
professional man does more generous actions than John Abernethy; only it
must be after his own fashion.

"Come, gentlemen, the bottle stands still," said Mr. Pendragon, "while
you are running through the merits of drinking. Does not Rabelais
contend that good wine is the best physic?' because there are more old
tip