Page:Devonshire Characters and Strange Events.djvu/891

Rh not rise. The Doctor begged to be left alone in the room with her.

When all were gone forth, he locked the door; then proceeded to divest himself of his coat, next of his waistcoat, and when he began to unhitch his braces—

"Now, then, make room—I'm coming to bed!"

"Mamma! Mamma! Mamma!" screamed the girl, and pulled violently at the bell.

"All right, madam," said Budd when the mother arrived on the spot; "she's cured now. Get this little maid up instantly, and vacate the bed for me. If there be any more nonsense, madam, send for me."

A small girl had a tiresome nervous cough. Dr. Budd was called in. He heard her cough. Then he suddenly took her up in his arms and planted her on the mantelshelf.

"There!" said he. "Balance yourself here for half an hour." He pulled out his watch. "If you cough you will infallibly tumble over among the fire-irons and cut your head. You are a nice little girl, you are an active little girl, you are a pretty little girl; but you have one cussed fault which makes every one hate you, and I'm going to cure you of that. No coughing. The fire is burning, and if you do fall I suspect your skirts will catch fire, and you will be frightfully burnt, besides having your cheek cut open by the fender."

A young lady was one day brought to the Doctor by her parents, who were very anxious about her, as she was in a depressed condition of mind, out of which nothing roused her. Budd promised to give every attention to the case, and requested the parents to leave her with him at his residence in Princess Place. Soon afterwards he bade his coachman put to and take the young lady out for a drive. "And mind," said the Doctor, "you upset the carriage."