THE HYPOCHONDRIAC.

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dropped from his nose whilst he was at breakfast."I promised to be present at Dr. Frogsfoot's nextvisit, and hurried out of the house, happy again toget into the world of reality; fearful that my ownimagination might become infected, were I to re-main long in the imaginary atmosphere of evilswhich surrounded my unhappy friend.

I entered Tom's apartment, on the following day,at one o'clock, and in less than two minutes theDoctor was announced. He was a tall, spareman, of much gravity of demeanor, rather ad-vanced in years, with a thin sharp visage, anample forehead, deeply sunk eyes, hollow cheeks,and a hanging of the nether lip, as Shakspearewould express himself, which gave a marked pe-culiarity of expression to his countenance. Hemade a slight inclination with his head as he en-tered the room, and, having seated himself close tomy friend, inquired, in a soft undertone of voice,how he felt himself; whilst, at the same time, hetook out his watch, and placed his fingers upon thepulse of his patient. Tom said nothing until thisceremony was over, after which he put out his

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