VISITOR: I down’t want you to send ’im away. I kin look arter ’im meself. There’s on’y six of us, an’ we got three rooms, an the other two boys kin sleep with me mother in the kitchen? Down’t send him away! DOCTOR: I’m very much afraid, Mrs.—ah—Mrs. Cooper, that it doesn’t quite rest with me whether the boy is taken away or not. He’s got diphtheria, that’s certain, and I’m legally compelled to report the case. It is for the Public Health people to decide whether they take the boy or leave him. _I_ think you ought to be glad to let him go. He’ll be well looked after. VISITOR: Down’t send ’im away! DOCTOR: But why not, Mrs. Cooper? You want him to get better, don’t you. You can’t possibly nurse him yourself. You have the other children to attend to, and the home to take care of, and your husband—— VISITOR: Yus, an’ there’s me ’usband, too. ’E won’t let you take ’im. DOCTOR (_very patiently_): I’ve said before that I don’t want to take him. It is the health officers who will take him if he’s taken at all. My duty is done when I’ve reported the case. VISITOR: What you wanter tell ’em for? What you wanter put the little chap away for? DOCTOR: I’m telling them because I shall be punished if I don’t. But I think it’s very foolish and ungrateful of you to make this fuss. I only want to do the best I can for you and your baby. You want him to get better, don’t you? VISITOR: Down’t send ’im away! Let me send me ’usband round to talk to you. Never mind about the punishment an’ that, Doctor. My ’usband won’t tell nobody. I’d like you to talk to me ’usband, Doctor. DOCTOR: And I would rather like to talk to your husband. I can explain things more clearly to him, perhaps. Send him round at once. VISITOR: Very likely it ain’t the diftheria at all, Doctor. I’m sure me ’usband won’t ’ave ’im took away. II.—MIDDAY DOCTOR: And what can I do for _you_? VISITOR: I come round yere to talk about the boy Cooper. I’m ’is father. The child ain’t to be took away, see? ’E ain’t got diftheria at all. DOCTOR: I’m sorry to have to differ from your diagnosis, Mr. Cooper, but the child _has_ got diphtheria. And I’m very much afraid that he’s got to be taken away. It doesn’t rest with me; I merely have to report—— VISITOR: If you wanter know the troof, Doctor, we’ve called in Doctor Popham. See? And Doctor Popham don’t believe as the boy ’ave got diftheria at all. And ’e’s sent the boy some physic. And ’e’s gointer ’ave another look at ’im termorrer. And we’ve took the case outer your ’ands, see? So you needn’t trouble to send in no reports to nobody. That child ain’t bein’ took away. You needn’t trouble to interfere no more. The boy is stoppin’ ’ome, along of ’is lawful parents. See? DOCTOR: Did Doctor Popham examine the child’s throat? VISITOR: What’s that gotter do with you? The boy ain’t got diftheria. And ’e ain’t gotter be moved.