 a straightener
sometimes thinks it right to glance at the possibility of some slight physical
disorder if he finds it important in order to assist him in his diagnosis; but
the answers which he gets are generally untrue or evasive, and he forms his own
conclusions upon the matter as well as he can. Sensible men have been known to
say that the straightener should in strict confidence be told of every physical
ailment that is likely to bear upon the case; but people are naturally shy of
doing this, for they do not like lowering themselves in the opinion of the
straightener, and his ignorance of medical science is supreme. I heard of one
lady, indeed, who had the hardihood to confess that a furious outbreak of
ill-humour and extravagant fancies for which she was seeking advice was possibly
the result of indisposition. »You should resist that,« said the straightener, in
a kind, but grave voice; »we can do nothing for the bodies of our patients; such
matters are beyond our province, and I desire that I may hear no further
particulars.« The lady burst into tears, and promised faithfully that she would
never be unwell again.
    But to return to Mr. Nosnibor. As the afternoon wore on many carriages drove
up with callers to inquire how he had stood his flogging. It had been very
severe, but the kind inquiries upon every side gave him great pleasure, and he
assured me that he felt almost tempted to do wrong again by the solicitude with
which his friends had treated him during his recovery; in this I need hardly say
that he was not serious.
    During the remainder of my stay in the country Mr. Nosnibor was constantly
attentive to his business, and largely increased his already great possessions;
but I never heard a whisper to the effect of his having been indisposed a second
time, or made money by other than the most strictly honourable means. I did hear
afterwards in confidence that there had been reason to believe that his health
had been not a little affected by the straightener's treatment, but his friends
did not choose to be over-curious upon the subject, and on his return to his
affairs it was by common consent passed over as hardly criminal in one who was
otherwise so much afflicted. For they regard bodily ailments as the more venial
in proportion as they have been produced by causes independent of the
constitution. Thus if a person ruin his health by excessive indulgence at the
table or by drinking, they count it to be almost a part of the mental disease
which brought it about, and so it goes for little, but
