"
"I never heard of it before. Dr. Harvey is my family physician, and
I certainly would not employ a man addicted to the use of ardent
spirits."
"Nor I," said Mr. Query "and for this reason, and for the doctor's
sake, too, I want to know the truth of the matter. I don't really
credit it myself; but I thought it would do no harm to inquire."
Mr. Query next applied to Squire Worthy for information.
"Dear me!" exclaimed the squire, who was a nervous man; "does Dr.
Harvey drink?"
"Such is the rumour; how true it is, I can't say."
"And what if he should give one of my family a dose of arsenic
instead of the tincture of rhubarb, some time, when he is
intoxicated? My mind is made up now. I shall send for Dr. Jones in
future."
"But, dear sir," remonstrated Mr. Query. "I don't say the report is
true."
"Oh, no; you wouldn't wish to commit yourself. You like to know the
safe side, and so do I. I shall employ Dr. Jones."
Mr. Query turned sorrowfully away.
"Squire Worthy must have bad suspicions of the doctor's intemperance
before I came to him," thought he; "I really begin to fear that
there is some foundation for the report. I'll go to Mrs. Mason; she
will know."
Mr. Query found Mrs. Mason ready to listen to and believe any
scandal. She gave her head a significant toss, as if she knew more
about the report than she chose to confess.
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