"
"But what am I to do for all that?"
"Oh, only the work of two men. You must keep my house in perfect health.
The servants have a trick of eating till they burst. You will have to sew
them up again. There are only seven hundred people in the village. You
must cure them all; and, if you do, I promise you their lasting
ingratitude. Outside the village, you must make them pay--_if you can._
We will find you patients of every degree. But whether you will ever get
any fees out of them, this deponent sayeth not. However, I can answer for
the _ladies_ of our county, that they will all cheat you--if they can."
Miss Gale's color came and went, and her eyes sparkled. "Oh, how good you
are! Is there a hospital?"
"County hospital, and infirmary, within three miles. Fine country for
disease. Intoxication prevalent, leading to a bountiful return of
accidents. I promise you wounds, bruises, and putrefying sores, and
everything to make you comfortable."
"Oh, don't laugh at me. I am so afraid I shall--no, I hope I shall not
disgrace you. And, then, it is against the law; but I don't mind that."
"Of course not. What is the law to ladies with elevated views? By-the-by,
what is the penalty--six months?"
"Oh, no.
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