132

DEATH S DOINGS.

fied could cure him. He caught at the informa-tion. " But," continued I, " you must go withme into Worcestershire; the air of the Malvernhills, the pure water, the skill of the doctor, andmy own good nursing, will do wonders for you. Ishall be here, to-morrow, with my travelling-car-riage, at twelve : so have every thing in readiness—I will take no refusal." He looked seriously atme, for a few seconds; and then said, " I thankyou greatly; but I cannot stand the fatigue of sucha journey."—" Nonsense, Tom! trust that to me.Be ready at twelve :" and I abruptly left the housebefore he had time to utter a negative. " A prettyscrape I have got into," thought I, as I walkeddown Regent Street: " to volunteer myself as thekeeper of an hypochondriac on the verge of in-sanity !—yet—he is my friend; and I am rescu-ing a drowning man, which is the duty of everypassenger who sees his danger, be he friend orfoe."

I had ordered the carriage to be in Holies Streetat twelve precisely; and, anxious to secure myfriend, walked to his lodging immediately after