My instinct towards it is so strong that
I cannot be mistaken. May I taste it, ma'am?'
"The woman sliced off a thin corner, and presented it to him on the
knife.
"`Delicious!' he exclaimed; `I am right,--this is the True Food.
Give me two pounds--and the crackers, ma'am.'
"I turned away, quite as much disgusted as amused with this
charlatanism. And yet I verily believe the fellow was sincere--
self-deluded only. I had by this time lost my faith in him, though
not in the great Arcadian principles. On reaching home, after an
hour's walk, I found our household in unusual commotion. Abel
was writhing in intense pain: he had eaten the whole two pounds of
cheese, on his way home! His stomach, so weakened by years of
unhealthy abstinence from true nourishment, was now terribly
tortured by this sudden stimulus. Mrs. Shelldrake, fortunately,
had some mustard among her stores, and could therefore administer
a timely emetic. His life was saved, but he was very ill for two
or three days. Hollins did not fail to take advantage of this
circumstance to overthrow the authority which Abel had gradually
acquired on the subject of food.
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