Seeing her so determined, I told her, if it must be so, it should.

Then, Sir, the gentleman may come.  But I shall not be able to answer many questions.  Nurse, you can tell him at the window there what a night I have had, and how I have been for two days past.  And Mr. Goddard, if he be here, can let him know what I have taken.  Pray let me be as little questioned as possible.

The Doctor paid his respects to her with the gentlemanly address for which he is noted:  and she cast up her sweet eyes to him with that benignity which accompanies her every graceful look.

I would have retired:  but she forbid it.

He took her hand, the lily not of so beautiful a white:  Indeed, Madam, you are very low, said he:  but give me leave to say, that you can do more for yourself than all the faculty can do for you.

He then withdrew to the window.  And, after a short conference with the women, he turned to me, and to Mr. Goddard, at the other window:  We can do nothing here, (speaking low,) but by cordials and nourishment.  What friends has the lady?  She seems to be a person of condition; and, ill as she is, a very fine woman.——­A single lady, I presume?

I whisperingly told him she was.  That there were extraordinary circumstances in her case; as I would have apprized him, had I met with him yesterday:  that her friends were very cruel to her; but that she could not hear them named without reproaching herself; though they were much more to blame than she.

I knew I was right, said the Doctor.  A love-case, Mr. Goddard! a love-case, Mr. Belford! there is one person in the world who can do her more service than all the faculty.

Mr. Goddard said he had apprehended her disorder was in her mind; and had treated her accordingly:  and then told the Doctor what he had done:  which he approving of, again taking her charming hand, said, My good young lady, you will require very little of our assistance.  You must, in a great measure, be your own assistance.  You must, in a great measure, be your own doctress.  Come, dear Madam, [forgive me the familiar tenderness; your aspect commands love as well as reverence; and a father of children, some of them older than yourself, may be excused for his familiar address,] cheer up your spirits.  Resolve to do all in your power to be well; and you’ll soon grow better.

You are very kind, Sir, said she.  I will take whatever you direct.  My spirits have been hurried.  I shall be better, I believe, before I am worse.  The care of my good friends here, looking at the women, shall not meet with an ungrateful return.

The Doctor wrote.  He would fain have declined his fee.  As her malady, he said, was rather to be relieved by the soothings of a friend, than by the prescriptions of a physician, he should think himself greatly honoured to be admitted rather to advise her in the one character, than to prescribe to her in the other.