"That's in those bottles?" asked Frank languidly. (He felt amazingly
weak and stupid.)
"Well, it's an anti-toxin," said the doctor. "That doesn't tell you
much, does it?"
"No," said Frank.... "By the way, who's going to pay you, doctor? I
can't."
The doctor's face rumpled up into wrinkles. (Frank wished he wouldn't
sit with his back to the window.)
"Don't you bother about that, my boy. You're a case--that's what you
are."
Frank attempted a smile out of politeness.
"Now, how about some more beef-tea, and then going to sleep again?"
Frank assented.
* * * * *
It was not until the Thursday morning that things began to run really
clear again in Frank's mind. He felt for his rosary under his pillow and
it wasn't there. Then he thumped on the floor with a short stick which
had been placed by him, remembering that in some previous existence he
had been told to do this.
A small, lean man appeared at the door, it seemed, with the quickness of
thought.
"My rosary, please," said Frank. "It's a string of beads. I expect it's
in my trouser-pocket."
The man looked at him with extraordinary earnestness and vanished.
Then the doctor appeared holding the rosary.
"Is this what you want?" he asked.
"That's it! Thanks very much."
"You're a Catholic?" went on the other, giving it him.
"Yes."
The doctor sat down again.
"I thought so," he said.
Frank wondered why. Then a thought crossed his mind.
"Have I been talking?" he said. "I suppose I was delirious?"
The doctor made no answer for a moment; he was looking at him fixedly.
Then he roused himself.
"Well, yes, you have," he said.
Frank felt rather uncomfortable.
"Hope I haven't said anything I shouldn't."
The old man laughed shortly and grimly.
"Oh, no," he said. "Far from it. At least, your friends wouldn't think
so."
"What was it about?"
"We'll talk about that later, if you like," said the doctor. "Now I want
you to get up a bit after you've had some food."
* * * * *
It was with a very strange sensation that Frank found himself out in the
garden next day, in a sheltered corner, seated in a wicker chair in
which, by the help of bamboo poles, he had been carried downstairs by
Thomas and the Major, with the doctor leading the way and giving
directions as to how to turn the corners. The chair was brought out
through an irregularly-shaped little court at the back of the house and
set down in the warm autumn noon, against an old wall, with a big
kitchen garden, terribly neglected, spread before him. The smoke of
burning went up in the middle distance, denoting the heap of weeds
pulled by the Major and Gertie during the last three days. He saw Gertie
in the distance once or twice, in a clean sun-bonnet, going about her
business, but she made no sign. The smell of the burning weeds gave a
pleasant, wholesome and acrid taste to his mouth.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account