Whether the first wonderful cure he effected was on a patient of Pratt's or of Pilgrim's, one was as ready as the other to pull the interloper by the nose, and both alike directed their remarkable powers of conversation towards making the town too hot for him.

But by their respective patients these two distinguished men were pitted against each other with great virulence.

Mrs.Lowme could not conceal her amazement that Mrs.Phipps should trust her life in the hands of Pratt, who let her feed herself up to that degree, it was really shocking to hear how short her breath was; and Mrs.Phipps had no patience with Mrs.Lowme, living, as she did, on tea and broth, and looking as yellow as any crow-flower, and yet letting Pilgrim bleed and blister her and give her lowering medicine till her clothes hung on her like a scarecrow's.

On the whole, perhaps, Mr.Pilgrim's reputation was at the higher pitch, and when any lady under Mr.Pratt's care was doing ill, she was half disposed to think that a little more active treatment' might suit her better.

But without very definite provocation no one would take so serious a step as to part with the family doctor, for in those remote days there were few varieties of human hatred more formidable than the medical.