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〃are； as you have seen； in a partially unfinished condition。
Under any circumstances； I should lay little stress on the
grounds； having Hampstead Heath so near at hand； and carriage
exercise and horse exercise being parts of my System。 In a lesser
degree； it is also necessary for me to ask your indulgence for
the basement floor； on which we now stand。 The waiting…room and
study on that side； and the Dispensary on the other （to which I
shall presently ask your attention）； are completed。 But the large
drawing…room is still in the decorator's hands。 In that room
（when the walls are drynot a moment before） my inmates will
assemble for cheerful society。 Nothing will be spared that can
improve； elevate； and adorn life at these happy little
gatherings。 Every evening； for example； there will be music for
those who like it。〃
At this point there was a faint stir among the visitors。 A mother
of a family interrupted the doctor。 She begged to know whether
music 〃every evening〃 included Sunday evening； and； if so； what
music was performed？
〃Sacred music； of course； ma'am；〃 said the doctor。 〃Handel on
Sunday eveningand Haydn occasionally； when not too cheerful。
But； as I was about to say； music is not the only entertainment
offered to my nervous inmates。 Amusing reading is provided for
those who prefer books。〃
There was another stir among the visitors。 Another mother of a
family wished to know whether amusing reading meant novels。
〃Only such novels as I have selected and perused myself； in the
first instance；〃 said the doctor。 〃Nothing painful； ma'am！ There
may be plenty that is painful in real life； but for that very
reason； we don't want it in books。 The English novelist who
enters my house （no foreign novelist will be admitted） must
understand his art as the healthy…minded English reader
understands it in our time。 He must know that our purer modern
taste； our higher modern morality； limits him to doing exactly
two things for us； when he writes us a book。 All we want of him
isoccasionally to make us laugh； and invariably to make us
comfortable。〃
There was a third stir among the visitorscaused plainly this
time by approval of the sentiments which they had just heard。 The
doctor； wisely cautious of disturbing the favorable impression
that he had produced； dropped the subject of the drawing…room；
and led the way upstairs。 As before； the company followed； and；
as before； Miss Gwilt walked silently behind them； last of all。
One after another the ladies looked at her with the idea of
speaking； and saw something in her face； utterly unintelligible
to them； which checked the well…meant words on their lips。 The
prevalent impression was that the Principal of the Sanitarium had
been delicately concealing the truth； and that his first inmate
was mad。
The doctor led the waywith intervals of breathing…time accorded
to the old lady on his armstraight to the top of the house。
Having collected his visitors in the corridor； and having waved
his hand indicatively at the numbered doors opening out of it on
either side； he invited the company to look into any or all of
the rooms at their own pleasure。
〃Numbers one to four； ladies and gentlemen；〃 said the doctor；
〃include the dormitories of the attendants。 Numbers four to eight
are rooms intended for the accommodation of the poorer class of
patients； whom I receive on terms which simply cover my
expenditurenothing more。 In the cases of these poorer persons
among my suffering fellow creatures； personal piety and the
recommendation of two clergymen are indispensable to admission。
Those are the only conditions I make； but those I insist on。 Pray
observe that the rooms are all ventilated； and the bedsteads all
iron and kindly notice； as we descend again to the second floor；
that there is a door shutting off all communication between the
second story and the top story when necessary。 The rooms on the
second floor； which we have now reached； are （with the exception
of my own room） entirely devoted to the reception of
lady…inmatesexperience having convinced me that the greater
sensitiveness of the female constitution necessitates the higher
position of the sleeping apartment； with a view to the greater
purity and freer circulation of the air。 Here the ladies are
established immediately under my care； while my
assistant…physician （whom I expect to arrive in a week's time）
looks after the gentlemen on the floor beneath。 Observe； again；
as we descend to this lower； or first floor； a second door；
closing all communication at night between the two stories to
every one but the assistant physician and myself。 And now that we
have reached the gentleman's part of the house； and that you have
observed for yourselves the regulations of the establishment；
permit me to introduce you to a specimen of my system of
treatment next。 I can exemplify it practically； by introducing
you to a room fitted up； under my own direction； for the
accommodation of the most complicated cases of nervous suffering
and nervous delusion that can come under my care。〃
He threw open the door of a room at one extremity of the
corridor； numbered Four。 〃Look in； ladies and gentlemen；〃 he
said； 〃and； if you see anything remarkable； pray mention it。〃
The room was not very large； but it was well lit by one broad
window。 Comfortably furnished as a bedroom； it was only
remarkable among other rooms of the same sort in one way。 It had
no fireplace。 The visitors having noticed this； were informed
that the room was warmed in winter by means of hot water； and
were then invited back again into the corridor； to make the
discoveries； under professional direction； which they were unable
to make for themselves。
〃A word； ladi es and gentlemen；〃 said the doctor； 〃literally a
word； on nervous derangement first。 What is the process of
treatment； when； let us say； mental anxiety has broken you down；
and you apply to your doctor？ He sees you； hears you； and gives
you two prescriptions。 One is written on paper； and made up at
the chemist's。 The other is administered by word of mouth； at the
propitious moment when the fee is ready； and consists in a
general recommendation to you to keep your mind easy。 That
excellent advice given； your doctor leaves you to spare yourself
all earthly annoyances by your own unaided efforts； until he
calls again。 Here my System steps in and helps you！ When _I_ see
the necessity of keeping your mind easy； I take the bull by the
horns and do it for you。 I place you in a sphere of action in
which the ten thousand trifles which must； and do； irritate
nervous people at home are expressly considered and provided
against。 I throw up impregnable moral intrenchments between Worry
and You。 Find a door banging in _this_ house； if you can！ Catch a
servant in _this_ house rattling the tea…things when he takes
away the tray！ Discover barking dogs； crowing cocks； hammering
workmen； screeching children _here_and I engage to close My
Sanitarium to…morrow！ Are these nuisances laughing matters to
nervous people？ Ask them！ Can they escape these nuisances at
home？ Ask them！ Will ten minutes' irritation from a barking dog
or a screeching c