He could play the violin too, and that
with no mean expression--believing only in the expression, nowise
in the feeling expressed: this accomplishment also he contrived she
should, as if by accident, become acquainted with.
In the judgment of most who knew him, he was an excellent and
indeed admirable man. "No nonsense about him, don't you know?--able
to make himself agreeable, but not losing sight of the main chance
either!" men would say; and "A thorough family-doctor, knowing how
to humour patients out of their fancies!" would certain mammas add,
who, instead of being straight-forward with their children, were
always scheming, and dodging, and holding private confabulations
about them with doctor and clergyman.
In that part of his professional duty which bordered on that of the
nurse, the best that was in Jermyn came out. Few men could handle a
patient at the same time so firmly and tenderly as he; few were
less sparing of self in the endeavour to make him comfortable. And
from the moment when the simple-minded Cosmo became aware of his
attendance and ministration, his heart went out to him--from the
moment, that is, when, in the afternoon of the same day on which
Joan transformed his chamber, he lifted him in his arms that the
gardener and his wife might place a feather-bed and mattress under
him, obliterating in softness the something which had seemed to
find out every bone in his body: as soon as he was laid down again,
his spirit seemed to rise on clouds of ease to thank his minister.
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