The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1899-11-16

~ duty in the morn
ing; sometimes
helped in the housework; sometimes
walked abroad with the Doctor, to drink
wisdom from the ~fountain-head; and
was introduced at might to the sciences
end the dead tongues. He retained his
singular placidity of mind and man
ner; he was rarely in fault; but he
made only a very partial progress in
r6is studies, and remained much of a
stranger in the family.
{ The Doctor was a pattern of regu-
tarity. All forenoon he worked IN his
great book, the Comparative Pharma-
copoeia, or Historical Dictionary of all
Medicines" which as yet consisted
principally of slips of paper md pins.
When finished, it was to fill many
Dersonable volumes and to combine an
rtiquarian interest with professional
utility. But the Doctor was studious
OF literary graces and the picturesque;
an anecdote, a touch of manners, a
moral qualification, or a sounding cpl
1het was sure to be preferred before
"a piece of science; a little more, and
me would have written the Compare
tive Pharmacopoeia" in verse! The
article "Mummia," for instance, was
already complete, though the remain
der of the work had not progressed be-
yond the letter A. 1t was exceedingly
copdous and entertaining, written with
Quatntness and color, exact, erudite, a
literary article; but it would hardly
have afforded guidance to a practicing
physician of to-day. The feminine
good sense of his wife had led her to
point this out with uncompromising
sincerity; for the Dictionary was duly
read aloud to her, ibetwixt sleep and
waking, az it proceeded toward an in
f6ndtely distant completion; and the
Doctor was a little sore on the subject
OF mummies, and sometimes resented
ian allG1sion with asperity.
After the midday meal and a proper
period of digestion, he walked, some
times alone, sometimes accompanied
by Jean-Marie; for madam would have
preferred any hardship rather than
sEValk.
She was, as I have said, a very busy
Eperson, continually occupied about ma
6erial comforts, and ready to drop
asleep over a novel the instant she was
edisengaged. This was the less objec-
%3onab1e, as she never snored OF grew
Histempered In complexion when she
slept. On the contrary, she looked the
very picture of luxurious and appetiz-
&ng ease, and woke without a start to
fhe perfect possession of her faculties.
III I'm afraid she was greatly an animal,
IbaJt she was a very nice animal to have
~NaaSout. In this way she had little to
do with Jean-Marie; but the sympathy
(which had been established between
&1aerA On the first night remained un-
aaroken; they held occasional CONVEX
stations, Mostly On household matters
TO the extreme disappointment of the
Doctor, they occasionally sailed off to-
.Gether to that temple of debasing SUI
1peTstition, the village church; madam
<and he, both in their Sundays best
drove twice a month to Fontaineblear
and returned laden with purchases
and in short, although the Doctor still
continued to regard them as irrecon
rE&lably antipathetic, their relation wa
,ssas intimate, friendly, and confidential
~as their natures suffered.
L fear, however, chat in her heart O
hearts, madam kindly despised ant
rpitied the boy. She had no admiration
flor his class of virtues; she liked
ssmart, polite, forward, roguish sort o
hoy, cap in hand, light of foot, meeting
the eye; she liked volubility, charm,
little vice-the promise of a secont
Doctor Desprez. And it was her indie
feasible belief that Jean-Marie was dull
Poor dear boy" she had said once
"1how sad 1t is that he should be 8
stupid" She had never repeated tina
remark, for the Doctor had ragged Xix
q wild bull, de%nouncing the bruta
biuntness of her mind, ~bemoaniug hi
own fate to be so u~nequally mated wit
an ass, and, what touched Anastasi
more nearly, menacing the table chin
by the fury of his g~esticulations. Blu
she adhered silently to her opinion
and when Jean-Marie was sitting
,stolid, blank, but not unhappy, owe
Ibis unfinished tasks, she would snatc
her opportunity in the Doctors absence
go over to him, put her arms about hi
rneck, lay her cheek to his, and CON
smunicate her sympathy with his dis
rAresA. do not mind" she would ga!