Indeed, I remember that she was rather put out because I had not already mastered the books and pamphlets which she had given me.

In the end, notwithstanding the weariness of her feeble folly, I returned home in much better spirits.
For the next month or two nothing of note happened to me, except indeed that the action for damages brought against me by Sir Thomas Colford was suddenly withdrawn.

Although it never transpired publicly, I believe that the true reason of this collapse was that Sir John Bell flatly refused to appear in court and submit himself to further examination, and without Sir John Bell there was no evidence against me.

But the withdrawal of this action did not help me professionally; indeed the fine practice which I was beginning to get together had entirely vanished away.

Not a creature came near my consulting-room, and scarcely a creature called me in.