130 LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



change appearing outwardly, or being always susceptible of 

 communication by letter. But I hope we shall see her im- 

 prove in the course of the summer. For myself, I have not 

 crossed the threshold till to-day for the last three weeks ; I 

 am so lame as to be unable to cross the room without the 

 help of a stout stick, and there is no immediate hope of bet- 

 terness. The doctors forbid me attempting to walk, and 

 gravely, seriously recommend a crutch, or a wooden leg (the 

 latter not being intended to supplant, but to complement the 

 living limb). 



" I am in the best hands, and have certainly improved 

 under the treatment, but it is weary work lying on the sofa 

 when in the house, and still wearier to have to employ a 

 coach (eating a sore hole into my small earnings) whenever 

 I go out. I pay no visits, thinking none of my friends worth 

 a coach fare. And they manifestly rate me at the same 

 value, or they would occasionally despatch a vehicle for my 

 worship. 



" I have made a contract with a coachman who carries 

 me up and down at stated hours, and I find all the conso- 

 lation I can in lying all my length on the cushions, and 

 gazing with a majestic air on the pedestrians broiling in the 

 sun. It's a fine thing a coach, a very fine thing, and I am 

 the only chemist, except the Professor, who can afford one ; 

 and I am inclined to think mine is the handsomer turn-out 

 of the two. It is rather costly, however, and a project I 

 have set (instead of myself) on foot, of paying my way 

 (literally paying my way) by offering my friends sixpenny 

 or threepenny rides according to the distance, has not been 

 so successful as I could have wished. I observed to the 

 coachman to-day, that if it was not for lame people like 

 me, he would often want a job, and that I need not expect 

 much compassion from him. I am not sure that he knew 



