CHAPTER XX.
HOW WILLIE DID HIS BEST TO MAKE A BIRD OF AGNES.
During the time he was at college, he did often think of what Mr Shepherd had said to him.

When he was tempted to any self-indulgence, the thought would always rise that this was not the way to become able to help people, especially the real selves of them; and, when amongst the medical students, he could not help thinking how much better doctors some of them would make if they would but try the medicine of the other basket for themselves.

He thought this especially when he saw that they cared nothing for their patients, neither had any desire to take a part in the general business for the work's sake, but only wanted a practice that they might make a living.

For such are nearly as unfit to be healers of the body, as mere professional clergymen to be healers of broken hearts and wounded minds.

To do a man good in any way, you must sympathise with him--that is, know what he feels, and reflect the feeling in your own mirror; and to be a good doctor, one must love to heal; must honour the art of the physician and rejoice in it; must give himself to it, that he may learn all of it that he can--from its root of love to its branches of theory, and its leaves and fruits of healing.
He always came home to Priory Leas for the summer intervals, when you may be sure there was great rejoicing--loudest on the part of Agnes, who was then his constant companion, as much so, at least, as she was allowed.