Gertrude.  Now, Fortune, you ought to have told us downstairs that Dr. Kirke is with Mrs. Cleeve.

Amos.  Come away, Gerty.  Mrs. Cleeve can’t want to be bored with us just now.

Fortune.  Mrs. Cleeve give ’er ordares she is always to be bored wiz Madame Thorpe and Mr. Winterfield.

Amos.  Ha, Ha!

Gertrude. [Smiling.] Fortune!

Fortune.  Besides, ze doctares vill go in ’alf a minute, you see.

Gertrude.  Doctors!

Amos.  What, is there another doctor with Dr. Kirke?

Fortune.  Ze great physician, Sir Brodrick.

Gertrude.  Sir George Brodrick?  Amos!

Amos.  Doesn’t Mr. Cleeve feel so well?

Fortune.  Oh, yes.  But Mrs. Cleeve ’appen to read in a newspapare zat Sir George Brodrick vas in Florence for ze Paque—­ze Eastare.  Sir Brodrick vas Mr. Cleeve’s doctor in London, Mrs. Cleeve tell me, so’e is acquainted wiz Mr. Cleeve’s inside.

Amos.  Ho, ho!

Gertrude.  Mr. Cleeve’s constitution, Fortune.

Fortune.  Excuse, madame.  Zerefore Mrs. Cleeve she telegraph for Sir
Brodrick to come to Venise.

Amos.  To consult with Dr. Kirke, I suppose.

Fortune. [Listening.] ’Ere is ze doctares.

[Dr. Kirke enters, followed by sir George Brodrick.  Kirke is a shabby, snuff-taking old gentleman—­blunt but kind; sir George, on the contrary, is scrupulously neat in his dress, and has a suave, professional manner.  Fortune withdraws]

Kirke.  Good morning, Mr. Winterfield. [To Gertrude.] How do you do, my dear?  You’re getting some colour into your pretty face, I’m glad to see. [To sir George.] Mr. Winterfield—­Sir George Brodrick. [Sir George and Amos shake hands.]

Kirke. [To sir George.] Mrs. Thorpe. [Sir George shakes hands with Gertrude.] Sir George and I started life together in London years ago; now he finds me here in Venice.  Well we can’t all win the race—­eh?

Sir George.  My dear old friend! [To Gertrude.] Mr Cleeve has been telling me, Mrs. Thorpe, how exceedingly kind you and your brother have been to him during his illness.

Gertrude.  Oh, Mr. Cleeve exaggerates our little services.

Amos.  I’ve done nothing.

Gertrude.  Nor I.

Dr. Kirke.  Now, my dear!

Gertrude.  Dr Kirke, you weren’t in Florence with us; you’re only a tale-bearer.

Dr. Kirke.  Well, I’ve excellent authority for my story of a young woman who volunteered to share the nursing of an invalid at a time when she herself stood greatly in need of being nursed.