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The Leech
TosuchaprofessionalbodyRogerChillingworthwasabrilliantacquisition.Hesoonmanifestedhisfamiliaritywiththeponderousandimposingmachineryofantiquephysic;inwhicheveryremedycontainedamultitudeoffar-fetchedandheterogeneousingredients,aselaboratelycompoundedasiftheproposedresulthadbeentheElixirofLife.InhisIndiancaptivity,moreover,hehadgainedmuchknowledgeofthepropertiesofnativeherbsandroots;nordidheconcealfromhispatientsthatthesesimplemedicines,Nature’sboontotheuntutoredsavage,hadquiteaslargeashareofhisownconfidenceastheEuropeanPharmacopoeia,whichsomanylearneddoctorshadspentcenturiesinelaborating.
Thislearnedstrangerwasexemplaryasregardedatleasttheoutwardformsofareligiouslife;andearlyafterhisarrival,hadchosenforhisspiritualguidetheReverendMr.Dimmesdale.Theyoungdivine,whosescholar-likerenownstilllivedinOxford,wasconsideredbyhismoreferventadmirersaslittlelessthanaheavenlyordainedapostle,destined,shouldheliveandlabourfortheordinarytermoflife,todoasgreatdeeds,forthenowfeebleNewEnglandChurch,astheearlyFathershadachievedfortheinfancyoftheChristianfaith.Aboutthisperiod,however,thehealthofMr.Dimmesdalehadevidentlybeguntofail.
