Christian fiction; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Doctor Remy smiled, with the calm unconcern of a man who knows his
ground. "Your looks tell me more than that," said he.
"If they tell you anything but that I am well,--perfectly well,--they
lie," answered the Major, bluntly.
"I am glad to hear it," replied Doctor Remy. "Doubtless, then, you
sleep sound and soft."
"No, I don't," grumbled the Major, with unsuspecting frankness, "I
sleep like a man tossed in a blanket."
"And probably you have pleasant dreams."
"On the contrary, a perfect Bedlam of furies and horrors."
"And I suppose that you never have headaches, or dizziness, or
vagueness and loss of sight."
"I have them all," growled the Major, with an oath, "every miserable
item of them. I had an attack, about a fortnight ago, that actually
laid me up in bed for a day! I wonder what it all means!"
Doctor Remy forebore to signalize his victory by so much as a
triumphant look. "It means," he answered, quietly, "that you will be
none the worse for a little medicine in the house, as a provision for
future attacks of the sort."
And opening his pocket medicine-case, Doctor Remy selected three or
four small phials, and began to measure, mix, and fold up powders, with
a dexterity that it pleased the Major to witness. He noticed, too,
that the doctor's brow was deeply knit as he prosecuted his task, and
that he held one of the phials suspended, for a moment, over the small
square of paper, before discharging its contents. All this looked as
if his case was getting due consideration, and the Major was proportion
ably gratified.
Doctor Remy ended by pushing a dozen or more of tiny folded papers
across the table. "Take one, in water, every two hours," said he,
"till the symptoms abate,--that is, of course, when you have another
attack. There are enough for several occasions; I know you do not like
to send for a doctor, if it can be avoided. At the same time," he
added, "take care to drop those careless habits that I mentioned."
The last sentence brought a cloud to Major Bergan's brow; but the
doctor gave it time to dissipate while he packed his medicine case, and
chatted pleasantly about its convenient arrangements. "And now," said
he, rising, "what else can I do for you?"
"Nothing, that I know of," replied the Major, "except it be to present
your bill. What else _can_ a doctor do?"
"Several things," answered Doctor Remy, lightly. "Make your will, for
instance."
The Major laughed outright. "I should say that was a lawyer's
business," said he.
"So it is. But do you not know that I once belonged to the bar?"
"I do remember hearing something of the sort, now that you remind me of
it," rejoined the Major dryly. "I don't think any the better of you
for it."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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