The Argosy — page 268: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lady Grace. 249 stoppage of the heart, accompanied by a strange inward fluttering, which I feel to my fingers’ ends ;-and then a faintness ; almost, but not quite, amounting to a fainting-fit.” Sir William Chant put another question or two as to symptoms, and then passed on to another phase. ‘* How frequently do you have these attacks ? ” “Very seldom indeed. I’ve only had about half-a-dozen in all. The first time was after boating, when I was an undergraduate at Oxford ; the last time was yesterday evening ; and that covers a good many years, you perceive.” ‘““Vesterday evening!” repeated the doctor, struck with the remark. ‘* Not when you were here ?” ‘““No; afterwards. In going home we got into a crowd collected at a fire. JI ran, and otherwise exerted myself, and the attack came on.” ‘““And sometimes, I expect, it has come on from mental emotion ? ” “Yes ; more frequently so. What do you make of it, Sir William P ” Sir William Chant smiled, rose, and took some instrument from a drawer in his table. ‘‘You must let me test your organs a little before I can give you an answer.” ‘“‘ Beginning with the heart, I suppose ?” observed the Dean, as he unbuttoned his clerical coat and waistcoat. ‘Beginning with it and ending with it, I fancy,” thought the physician ; but he did not say so. The examination, a slight one, was over. The instrument was in its keeping-place again, the clerical coat and waistcoat had been refastened, and the gentlemen sat, each in his chair, facing one another as before. “Well? ” said the Dean, for Sir William did not speak. ‘Yes, undoubtedly the seat of mischief lies in the heart. It is not quite as sound as it ought to be.” “Am I in danger? I must deg of you to tell me the truth,” added the Dean, finding he was not immediately answered. ‘“* My dear Mr, Dean, in one sense of the word you are in danger ; all people must be in danger whose heart is in the condition of yours; but the extent of the peril depends very much upon yourself.” “You mean that with tranquillity it may be reduced to a minimum ?” ‘“Tdo. With perfect tranquillity maintained of mind and of body, your heart may serve you for years and years to come.” ‘I may not be able to command that.” “But you must do so. My dear sir, you must. I do not know which would be the worse for you, worry of mind or undue exertion of body.” ‘He would be a clever man who is able to ensure himself a life exempt from worry,” remarked the Dean. ‘“] mean emotional worry ; worry that runs to agitation,” said Sir COMMICMHOOOKS.cO©