THE HYPOCHONDRIAC.
121
which university his fortune, in her ladyship'sopinion, rendered it necessary he should sojourn,he was placed under the care of a clergyman, nearCheltenham. This arrangement was formed byLady Wunderlich, in order that Tom, whilst hishead was stored with classics by his tutor, shouldhave the health of his body confirmed by theconstant use of the waters; to superintend which,her ladyship took a house in that modern Sinope.
From this time I lost sight of Tom for nearlyten years, during three of which I have been in-formed he had lived in Exeter College, Oxford,where he kept a couple of horses and a servant;that, four years after leaving the University, hehad travelled to Italy, attended by Dr. Bolus ; forthe quondam apothecary had procured an Aber-deen diploma, at her ladyship's request, in orderto confer dignity on himself, and to add to that ofhis patron, in the eyes of foreigners. The doctorwas chosen for this important office, because hehad been acquainted with Tom's constitution fromhis infancy ; and not less on account of his know-ledge of that of her ladyship, who was to be the