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THE GOVERNESS'S STORY
In the year 1850 I was living as governess in the small watering-place
S., on the south coast of England. Amongst my friends was a young
doctor, B., who had recently come to the town. He had not bought a
practice, but his family was known to one or two of the principal
inhabitants, and he had begun to do well. He deserved his success, for
he was skilful, frank, and gentle, and he did not affect that mystery
which in his elder colleagues was already suspected to be nothing but
ignorance. He was one of the early graduates of the University of
London, and representative of the new school of medical science, relying
not so much upon drugs as upon diet and regimen. I was one of his first
patients. I had a severe illness lasting for nearly three months; he
watched over me carefully and cured me. As I grew better he began to
talk on other matters than my health when he visited me. We found that
we were both interested in the same books: he lent me his and I lent
him mine. It is almost impossible, I should think, for a young man and
a young woman to be friends and nothing more, and I confess that my
sympathy with him in his admiration of the Elizabethan poets, and my
gratitude to him for my recovery passed into affection.
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