_Enter_ GUMARABIC. GUM. Good morning, Mistress Jellybags. Well, how's our patient?-- better?--heh? [Mrs JELLYBAGS _shakes her head_.] GUM. No: well, that's odd. (_Goes up to_ Mr CADAVEROUS.) Not better, my dear sir?--don't you feel stronger? CAD. (_faintly_.) Oh, no! GUM. Not stronger! Let us feel the pulse. [Mrs JELLYBAGS _hands a chair, and_ GUMARABIC _sits down, pulls out his watch, and counts_.] Intermittent--135--well, now--that's very odd! Mrs Jellybags, have you adhered punctually to my prescriptions? JEL. Oh yes, sir, exactly. GUM. He has eaten nothing? CAD. Nothing at all. GUM. And don't feel stronger? Odd--very odd! Pray, has he had any thing in the way of drink? Come, Mrs Jellybags, no disguise,--tell the truth;--no soup--warm jelly--heh? JEL. No, sir; upon my word, he has had nothing. GUM. Humph?--and yet feels no stronger? Well, that's odd!--Has he taken the pill every half-hour? JEL. Yes, sir, regularly. GUM. And feels no better! Are you sure that he has had his draught with his pill? JEL. Every time, sir. GUM. And feels no better! Well, that's odd!--very odd, indeed! (_Rises and comes forward with_ Mrs JELLYBAGS.) We must throw in some more draughts, Mrs Jellybags; there is no time to be lost. JEL. I am afraid he's much worse, sir. GUM. I am not at all afraid of it, Mrs Jellybags,--I am sure of it;-- it's very odd,--but the fact is, that all the physic in the world won't save him; but still he must take it,--because--physic was made to be taken. JEL. Very true, sir. (_Whispers to_ GUMARABIC.) GUM. Ah! yes;--very proper. (_Going to_ Mr CADAVEROUS.) My dear sir, I have done my best; nevertheless, you are ill,--very ill,--which is odd,--very odd! It is not pleasant,--I may say, very unpleasant,--but if you have any little worldly affairs to settle,--will to make,--or a codocil to add, in favour of your good nurse, your doctor, or so on,--it might be as well to send for your lawyer;--there is no saying, but, during my practice, I have sometimes found that people die. After all the physic you have taken, it certainly is odd--very odd--very odd, indeed;--but you might die to-morrow. CAD. Oh dear!--I'm very ill. JEL. (_sobbing_.) Oh dear! oh dear!--he's very ill. GUM. (_comes forward, shrugging up his shoulders_.) Yes; he is ill-- very ill;--to-morrow, dead as mutton! At all events he has not died for want of physic. We must throw in some more draughts immediately;--no time to be lost. Life is short,--but my bill will be long--very long! [_Exit as scene closes_.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Act 2. SCENE 1.--_Enter_ CLEMENTINA, _with a letter in her hand_.