CHAP. xi.j GOLDSMITH IN PRACTICE AND BUEKE IN OFFICE.

is uneasy without swift renewal of the pleasurable excitement, 1705.
with no less than three similar suits, not less expensive, JsTiV
Goldsmith amazed his friends in the next six months. The
dignity he was obliged to put on with these fine clothes,
indeed, left him this as their only enjoyment; for he had
found it much harder to give up the actual reality of his old
humble haunts, of his tea at the "White-conduit, of his ale-
house club at Islington, of his nights at the Wrekin or
St Giles's, than to blot their innocent but vulgar names from
his now genteeler page. In truth, he would say (in truth
was a favourite phrase of his, interposes Cooke, who relates
the anecdote), one has to make vast sacrifices for good
company's sake; " for here am I shut out of several places
" where I used to play the fool very agreeably,"* Nor is it
quite clear that the most moderate accession of good company,
professionally speaking, rewarded this reluctant gravity.
The only instance remembered of his practice, was in the
case of a Mrs. Sidebotham, described as one of his recent
acquaintance of the better sort; whose waiting-woman was
often afterwards known to relate with what a ludicrous
assumption of dignity he would show off his cloak and his
cane, as he strutted with his queer little figure, stuck through
as with a huge pin by his wandering sword, into the sick-
room of her mistress. At last it one day happened, that, his
opinion differing somewhat from the apothecary's in attend-
ance, the lady thought her apothecary the safer counsellor
and Goldsmith quitted the house in high indignation. He
would leave off prescribing for his friends, he said. " Do so,
" my dear Doctor," observed Beauclerc. " "Whenever you
" undertake to kill, let it only be your enemies." "Upon the
whole this seems to have been the close of Doctor Goldsmith's
professional practice.

* Eun-p, Mag. xxiv.will hereafter be quoted in detail. They complete