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ener sometimes thinks it right to glance at the possibility of
some slight physical disorder if he finds it important in or-
der to assist him in his diagnosis; but the answers which
he gets are generally untrue or evasive, and he forms his
own conclusions upon the matter as well as he can. Sensible
men have been known to say that the straightener should
in strict confidence be told of every physical ailment that is
likely to bear upon the case; but people are naturally shy of
doing this, for they do not like lowering themselves in the
opinion of the straightener, and his ignorance of medical
science is supreme. I heard of one lady, indeed, who had the
hardihood to confess that a furious outbreak of ill-humour
and extravagant fancies for which she was seeking advice
was possibly the result of indisposition. ‘You should resist
that,’ said the straightener, in a kind, but grave voice; ‘we
can do nothing for the bodies of our patients; such matters
are beyond our province, and I desire that I may hear no
further particulars.’ The lady burst into tears, and promised
faithfully that she would never be unwell again.
But to return to Mr. Nosnibor. As the afternoon wore
on many carriages drove up with callers to inquire how he
had stood his flogging. It had been very severe, but the kind
inquiries upon every side gave him great pleasure, and he
assured me that he felt almost tempted to do wrong again
by the solicitude with which his friends had treated him
during his recovery: in this I need hardly say that he was
not serious.
During the remainder of my stay in the country Mr. Nos-
nibor was constantly attentive to his business, and largely

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