"My case admits of no choice.
Even such a nervous undecided creature as I am, can judge for himself where there is no alternative." "Did the doctors tell you there was no alternative ?" I asked.
"The doctors were afraid to tell me.

I had to force it out of them.

I said, 'I appeal to your honor to answer a plain question plainly.

Is there any certain prospect of my getting the better of the fits ?' They only said, 'At your time of life, we may reasonably hope so.' I pressed them closer:--'Can you fix a date to which I may look forward as the date of my deliverance ?' They could neither of them do it.

All they could say was, 'Our experience justifies us in believing that you will grow out of it; but it does _not_ justify us in saying when.' 'Then, I may be years growing out of it ?' They were obliged to own that it might be so.