"
Jane looked awestruck at their solemnity; but Mr. Hardie, who was taking
advice against the grain, turned satirical. "Gentleman," said he, "be
pleased to begin by moderating your own obscurity; and then perhaps I
shall see better how to cure my son's disorder. What the deuce are you
driving at?"
The two doctors looked at one another inquiringly, and so settled how to
proceed. Dr. Wycherley explained to Mr. Hardie that there was a sort of
general unreasonable and superstitious feeling abroad, a kind of terror
of the complaint with which his son was threatened; _"and which,_ instead
of the most remediable of disorders, is looked at as the most incurable
of maladies:" it was on this account he had learned to approach the
subject with singular caution, and even with a timidity which was kinder
in appearance than in reality; that he must admit.
"Well, you may speak out, as far as I am concerned," said Mr. Hardie,
with consummate indifference.
"Oh, yes!" said Jane, in a fever of anxiety; "pray conceal nothing from
us."
"Well, then, sir, I have not as yet had the advantage of examining your
son personally, but, from the diagnostics, I have no doubt whatever he is
labouring under the first fore-shadowings of cerebro-psychical
perturbation.
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