C!j05C Scutt^t^. 123 



the extraction of a troublesome old grinder is very 

 far from being " the sublimest of ecstacies under the 

 sun," but, by and bye, if our little leases of life could 

 be prolonged under no more favourable conditions, 

 few of us would, I think, strike the clause, " Tooth- 

 ache and its consequences," out of the agreement, if 

 by doing so we should risk its acceptance. 



But to return to the brioJit side of the business. I 

 have personally undergone the bother and the pain, 

 the throbbing agonies and piercing tortures of 

 an aching tooth, and yet have alwa}"s managed to 

 extract some little amusement, even under these 

 unfavourable circumstances, from such visits to my 

 dentist as have been unavoidable, and so, if you only 

 would, most incredulous of readers, might you ! 



Fancy yourself, for instance, standing upon the 

 uppermost of those three white and spotless steps, 

 in the very act of ringing the door-bell of the 

 renowned Mr. Tugwell, L.D.S.R.C.S. What a 

 deplorable funk you are in, and what a cheerless 

 expression you have assumed, which may or not, 

 however, according to circumstances, be to some 

 extent mitigated by the appearance of a smiling and 

 comely serving-maid in response to your nervous 

 summons. 



" Step in, Sir, please. Mr. Tugwell will be at 

 liberty in a few minutes." x\nd don't you, as you 



