Arthur Mervyn | Page 2

treated.
My family consisted of my wife and a young child. Our servant-maid
had been seized, three days before, by the reigning malady, and, at her
own request, had been conveyed to the hospital. We ourselves enjoyed
good health, and were hopeful of escaping with our lives. Our measures
for this end had been cautiously taken and carefully adhered to. They
did not consist in avoiding the receptacles of infection, for my office
required me to go daily into the midst of them; nor in filling the house
with the exhalations of gunpowder, vinegar, or tar. They consisted in
cleanliness, reasonable exercise, and wholesome diet. Custom had
likewise blunted the edge of our apprehensions. To take this person into
my house, and bestow upon him the requisite attendance, was the
scheme that first occurred to me. In this, however, the advice of my
wife was to govern me.
I mentioned the incident to her. I pointed out the danger which was to
be dreaded from such an inmate. I desired her to decide with caution,
and mentioned my resolution to conform myself implicitly to her
decision. Should we refuse to harbour him, we must not forget that
there was a hospital to which he would, perhaps, consent to be carried,
and where he would be accommodated in the best manner the times
would admit.
"Nay," said she, "talk not of hospitals. At least, let him have his choice.
I have no fear about me, for my part, in a case where the injunctions of
duty are so obvious. Let us take the poor, unfortunate wretch into our
protection and care, and leave the consequences to Heaven."

I expected and was pleased with this proposal. I returned to the sick
man, and, on rousing him from his stupor, found him still in possession
of his reason. With a candle near, I had an opportunity of viewing him
more accurately.
His garb was plain, careless, and denoted rusticity. His aspect was
simple and ingenuous, and his decayed visage still retained traces of
uncommon but manlike beauty. He had all the appearances of mere
youth, unspoiled by luxury and uninured to misfortune. I scarcely ever
beheld an object which laid so powerful and sudden a claim to my
affection and succour.
"You are sick," said I, in as cheerful a tone as I could assume. "Cold
bricks and night-airs are comfortless attendants for one in your
condition. Rise, I pray you, and come into the house. We will try to
supply you with accommodations a little more suitable."
At this address he fixed his languid eyes upon me. "What would you
have?" said he. "I am very well as I am. While I breathe, which will not
be long, I shall breathe with more freedom here than elsewhere. Let me
alone--I am very well as I am."
"Nay," said I, "this situation is unsuitable to a sick man. I only ask you
to come into my house, and receive all the kindness that it is in our
power to bestow. Pluck up courage, and I will answer for your recovery,
provided you submit to directions, and do as we would have you. Rise,
and come along with me. We will find you a physician and a nurse, and
all we ask in return is good spirits and compliance."
"Do you not know," he replied, "what my disease is? Why should you
risk your safety for the sake of one whom your kindness cannot benefit,
and who has nothing to give in return?"
There was something in the style of this remark, that heightened my
prepossession in his favour, and made me pursue my purpose with
more zeal. "Let us try what we can do for you," I answered. "If we save
your life, we shall have done you some service, and, as for recompense,
we will look to that."

It was with considerable difficulty that he was persuaded to accept our
invitation. He was conducted to a chamber, and, the criticalness of his
case requiring unusual attention, I spent the night at his bedside.
My wife was encumbered with the care both of her infant and her
family. The charming babe was in perfect health, but her mother's
constitution was frail and delicate. We simplified the household duties
as much as possible, but still these duties were considerably
burdensome to one not used to the performance, and luxuriously
educated. The addition of a sick man was likely to be productive of
much fatigue. My engagements would not allow me to be always at
home, and the state of my patient, and the remedies necessary to be
prescribed, were attended with many noxious and disgustful
circumstances. My fortune would not allow me to hire assistance. My
wife, with a feeble frame and a mind shrinking, on