36 MEMOIR OF GEORGE WILSON. r CHAP. II. 



pletely blinded them, and the more so, that in a walk last 

 night with Catherine and Mary, I took care to talk as much 

 nonsense as possible, imagining that such a careless, 

 thoughtless-like piece of policy would completely mislead 

 them as to my intentions. To atone for it, however, I had 

 to sit up till one, spelling over all the mysteries of bones, 

 muscles, nerves, &c. ; and all next (that is, this) day, I have 

 been busy reading over half a book of chemistry, and the 

 whole anatomy of the leg and arm, from the shoulder and 

 haunch to the fingers and toes ; and well it was I did so, 

 seeing I was examined on the arm, and I was all the more 

 expert at answers from having looked over it. At the 

 eventful hour of half-past one, having slipped out in my 

 best coat and waistcoat, and taken your cane, that I might 

 delude any of my friends with the idea I was about to 

 wander out on a walk, carelessly looking into the jewellers' 

 or toy shops when any one passed even on the other side, 

 who I thought might recognise by my dress my intentions, 

 all the while swinging your wonderful stick with as much 

 composure as possible, though I believe it kept pretty good 

 time with my heart thumping on my ribs, so much indeed, 

 that ' thinks I to myself,' I'm in love with what, 1 leave 

 you to guess, being one of those courteous writers who 

 don't insult their readers by explaining everything, as if they 

 were addressing children. 



" I was ushered into the waiting-room, a little plain 

 room, which contained two fellows sitting in the window, 

 and putting on a very big magnanimous look, I strolled 

 down to a seat, on which planting myself, I kept stedfastly 

 looking at them, that they might not look at me, a plan 

 which succeeds as well with men as lions (see African 

 Travels). At last, however, tiring of staring, I fumbled in 

 my pocket to see if I had any sort of book to while away 



