''Good girl,'' he said again. Then, moving past her: ''Mrs Price. The nurses tell me you have been giving in to tears. That is not good. What will your husband say? Shall he be pleased to think you melancholy? Hmm? And all your children? What shall they think?''
She answered in a whisper: ''I don''t know, sir.''
''Hmm?''
He took her wrist, all the time murmuring to Dr Graves, who finally made some note in his book. Then they walked to the pale old lady.
''Miss Wilson, what complaints have you for us today?'' asked Dr Christie.
''None but the usual ones,'' she answered.
''Well, we have heard them many times. You need not repeat them.''
''The want of pure air,'' she said quickly.
''Yes, yes.'' He looked at Dr Graves''s book.〓〓
''And of wholesome food.''
''You will find the food wholesome enough, Miss Wilson, if you will only sample it.''
''The frigid water.''
''A tonic, for shattered nerves. You know this, Miss Wilson.''
She moved her lips, and swayed on her feet. Then all at once she cried out: Thieves!''
I jumped at the sound. Dr Christie looked up at her. ''That''s enough,'' he said. ''Remember your tongue. What have you upon it?''
''Thieves! Devils!''
''Your tongue, Miss Wilson! What do we keep upon it? Hmm?''
She worked her mouth; then said,