Follow common sense, and you'll
do very well.'
"Thus ended the interview between Abernethy and Elliot. It was the old
tale of the stammerers personified; for the professional and the patient
each conceived the other an imitator. On reaching the ground-floor
the surgeon was, however, relieved from his embarrassment by the
communication of the good woman of the house, who, in her anxiety to
serve Elliot, had produced this extraordinary scene. Abernethy
laughed heartily--assured her that the patient would do well--wrote a
prescription for him--begged ~107~~he might hear how he proceeded--and
learning he was a professional man, requested the lady of the mansion to
return him his fee."
"Ay," said the alderman, "that was just like John Abernethy. I remember
when he tapped poor Mrs. Marigold for the dropsy, he was not very
tender, to be sure, but he soon put her out of her tortures. And when
on his last visit I offered him a second twenty pound note for a fee, I
thought he would have knocked me down; asked me if I was the fool that
gave him such a sum on a former occasion; threw it back again with
indignation, and said he did not rob people in that manner." No
professional man does more generous actions than John Abernethy; only it
must be after his own fashion.
"Come, gentlemen, the bottle stands still," said Mr.
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