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8 finished he was in a position to set at rest, so far as this was at all necessary, the minds of both the patient and her daughter. Certain difficulties were encountered, however, when Doctor Graesler wanted to put the former on a strict diet for the next few days, for against this she protested most vehemently. She maintained that in former years she had speedily cured just such attacks as these—which she designated as of nervous origin—by partaking of pork and sauerkraut, and of a particular kind of fried sausage which was unhappily not to be procured here; and only for this once had she permitted herself to be enjoined by Sabine from doing full justice to a hearty meal that very noon—an act of renunciation which, she averred, had very likely brought about the fever. The doctor, who had at first taken these remarks for jests, perceived during the further course of the conversation that, in contrast to her daughter, the lady held thoroughly unprofessional, not to say heretical, views on the science of medicine, and this the more so as, later on, she would not cease making contemptuous remarks about the efficacy of the mineral springs in the near-by watering-place. Thus she affirmed that, for purposes of export, the bottles were filled with ordinary spring-water to which were added salt, pepper, and probably also still other even more doubtfully salubrious spices; so that Doctor Graesler, who had always felt that he had an interest in the reputation of any spa in which he happened at any particular time to be practising and that he was in part responsible for its curative successes and failures, could not entirely repress some sign of having been offended. Yet he did not seriously contradict the mother, but rather contented himself with exchanging a smile of understanding with her daughter—a gesture with which he believed he had sufficiently, and with dignity, secured his position in the matter.

Later, as he walked forth into the open accompanied by Sabine, he again emphasized the complete innocuousness of the case—a conclusion with which Sabine declared herself in perfect agreement. And yet, she added, one had, in the case of persons of advanced age, to give some heed to attacks which in younger people were quite without significance; and it was for this reason, she declared, and more especially in view of the absence of her father, that she had felt in duty bound to send for a doctor.

"Your father is, I presume, on a tour of inspection?" the doctor suggested.

"How do you mean, Doctor?"