1840-42. DISAPPOINTED HOPES. 261 



wards in her own statement, that I was very like a brother of 

 hers, a young priest of the Jesuits, and that she knew what it 

 was for a stranger to be away from home, travelworn and weary. 

 Alick was very pressing that I should stay longer with him. 

 It will amuse you to hear that K. is the old fellow about 

 dress, showed a waistcoat which, so far as I could make 

 out the calculation, cost less than nothing to the purchaser, 

 and was, as it were, when washings were included, a clear 

 source of gain. 



" I have stood my journey well ; my general health and 

 rheumatism are improving, and I hope to continue making pro- 

 gress." This hope was unfortunately not to be fulfilled, for 

 almost immediately on reaching London he suffered from severe 

 inflammation of one eye. The first doctor w r ho visited him ad- 

 vised simple remedies, and thus time was lost, and the eyesight 

 only saved by the use of the strongest measures. A medical 

 friend who happened to call was the first to perceive the dan- 

 ger, and, being a skilful oculist, averted the evil by most anxious 

 care ; so that in eleven days he was able to write home, and to 

 say, " My eye is now better, my general health much the same, 

 and my rheumatism no worse. Two doctors I have met here, 

 reckoned skilful, give promise of rapidly recovering strength, 

 there being nothing radically wrong with me ; at present, how- 

 ever, progress is slow/' Expressions of anxiety in home letters 

 lead to assurances a few days later : " So far as my eye is con- 

 cerned, believe I am honest when I say it is quite better, at 

 least only retains a little weakness, which obliges me to avoid 

 glaring lights or exposure to currents of air. You will, there- 

 fore, understand that I am now quite out of doctors' hands, and 

 absolved from medicine, recommended to good diet and care, 

 but otherwise just as I was when I left you. As to coming 

 home, I shall not do so immediately ; it would not be safe, 

 indeed, to travel at present, from the risk of a return of my late 

 inflammation. London has not had a fair trial ; but, at all 

 events, I shall not remain here long. The weather is extremely 

 fine, and I walk out in the afternoon when the sun is down, 

 and think I shall make progress now day by day. Being for- 

 bidden to walk much on pavements, owing to the reflection 



