148 THERE IS NO HURRY.

Holland, but that no man in a profession could
get on in London without making “ an appear-
ance.” At this Charles shrugged his shoulders,
and thanked God he lived at Repton.

The brothers, as years moved rapidly on—
engaged as they were by their mutual industry
and success in their several fields of action—
met but seldom. It was impossible to say which
of the two continued the most prosperous. Dr.
Adams made several lucky hits; and having so
obtained a position, was fortunate in having an
abundance of patients in an intermediate sort
of state—that is, neither very well nor very ill.
Of a really bland and courteous nature, he was
kind and attentive to all, and it was certain that
such of his patients as were only in moderate
circumstances, got well long before those who
were rich; his friends attributed this to his hu-
manity as much as to his skill; his enemies
said he did not like ‘ poor patients.” Perhaps
there was a mingling of truth in both statements.
The money he had received for his portion of
the land was spent, certainly, before his receipts
equalled his expenditure ; and strangely enough,
by the’time the farmer had paid off his debt, the
doctor was involved, not to a large amount, but
enough to render his “ appearance” to a cer-
tain degree fictitious. This embarrassment, to
do him justice, was not of long continuance; .
he became the fashion; and before prosperity
had turned his head by an influx of wealth, so