The attendance she received could only be described as casual. Neither
Emile nor Maria possessed one idea on the subject of hygiene between
them. The methods of the former were, as might be expected, a little
crude, and Maria combined a similar failing with a vast ignorance.
Moreover, she was not original. At the beginning of Arithelli's illness
pineapple juice had seemed to Maria a happy inspiration, and she
continued to provide it daily. What was good to drink on Sunday, she
argued, must also be good on Monday.
Arithelli's throat had healed quickly, but the depression and weakness
clung to her persistently. She fought it and was ashamed of it, true to
her Spartan traditions, but was forced to realise that it was not in her
own power to hurry her return to the world and work.
Michael Furness, who was much elated by the success of the Jewish
herbalist's remedy, continued his treatment on the same lines, giving her
various tisanes of leaves and flowers, which if they tasted unpleasant
were at least harmless. He had grown fond of his patient, and she always
looked for his visits with pleasure.
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