During the winter following the funeral this cold settled on his lungs.

At last towards the spring the crisis came.

He was taken seriously ill, and on his partial recovery several doctors held a consultation over him.

Their verdict was that he must give up his profession, which fortunately now he was in a position to do, live in the country and as much in the open air as possible, spending the worst months of the winter either in the South of England or in some warmer land.

These grave and learned men told him outright that his lungs were seriously attacked, and that he must choose between following their advice and a speedy departure from the world.
Anthony would have defied them, for that was his nature.