52 The Hunting Grounds 



closely followed if good is to come of it. Now 

 listen, and I will unfold a plan which must, if pro- 

 perly carried out, ensure success, or I resign all 

 pretensions to strategy in managing old women. 



" It is evident, from your account, that your 

 patient has acquired a liking for your resusticating 

 fluid, and has confidence in your ^m-eopathical 

 genius. Taking this for granted, c Go, thou, oh 

 learned man, at once, and prepare a good quart 

 bottle of the same stiff stuff, taking care to mix it 

 strong enough to make her wince again, and cause 

 her oculars to condense water in the same quantity 

 as Mrs. Parasina's did, when her infuriated hus- 

 band, Azo, ordered his hobstreperous and houda- 

 cious ' hofspring,' Mr. Hugo, her dewoted lovier, 

 to have his head amputated for a heart com- 

 plaint, vide the Poets. Leave me to write the 

 directions on the label of the bottle in Hindostani, 

 and give the spell time enough to work, which it 

 will do after she has swizzled a few glasses more 

 or less, then you drop in upon her, and if her 

 heart will not have become sufficiently softened 

 to grant you any little request or favour you may 

 have to make oh, you sly dog, doctor! call me 

 too late for dinner." 



" Oh, ye bauld chiel o' the diel ! ye Irregulars are 

 maist as bad as ranting wild Irishmen !" exclaimed 

 the doctor, when I had concluded my oration ; but 



