The Doctor's Dilemma eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 124 pages of information about The Doctor's Dilemma.

The Doctor's Dilemma eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 124 pages of information about The Doctor's Dilemma.

Mrs Dubedat [breathless] Louis:  are you—­

Walpole rises and comes quickly to see whether he is dead.

Louis.  Not yet, dear.  Very nearly, but not yet.  I should like to rest my head on your bosom; only it would tire you.

Mrs Dubedat.  No, no, no, darling:  how could you tire me? [She lifts him so that he lies on her bosom].

Louis.  Thats good.  Thats real.

Mrs Dubedat.  Dont spare me, dear.  Indeed, indeed you will not tire me.  Lean on me with all your weight.

Louis [with a sudden half return of his normal strength and comfort] Jinny Gwinny:  I think I shall recover after all. [Sir Patrick looks significantly at Ridgeon, mutely warning him that this is the end].

Mrs Dubedat [hopefully] Yes, yes:  you shall.

Louis.  Because I suddenly want to sleep.  Just an ordinary sleep.

Mrs Dubedat [rocking him] Yes, dear.  Sleep. [He seems to go to sleep.  Walpole makes another movement.  She protests].  Sh—­sh:  please dont disturb him. [His lips move].  What did you say, dear? [In great distress] I cant listen without moving him. [His lips move again; Walpole bends down and listens].

Walpole.  He wants to know is the newspaper man here.

The newspaper man [excited; for he has been enjoying himself enormously] Yes, Mr Dubedat.  Here I am.

Walpole raises his hand warningly to silence him.  Sir Ralph sits down quietly on the sofa and frankly buries his face in his handkerchief.

Mrs Dubedat [with great relief] Oh thats right, dear:  dont spare me:  lean with all your weight on me.  Now you are really resting.

Sir Patrick quickly comes forward and feels Louis’s pulse; then takes him by the shoulders.

Sir Patrick.  Let me put him back on the pillow, maam.  He will be better so.

Mrs Dubedat [piteously] Oh no, please, please, doctor.  He is not tiring me; and he will be so hurt when he wakes if he finds I have put him away.

Sir Patrick.  He will never wake again. [He takes the body from her and replaces it in the chair.  Ridgeon, unmoved, lets down the back and makes a bier of it].

Mrs Dubedat [who has unexpectedly sprung to her feet, and stands dry-eyed and stately] Was that death?

Walpole.  Yes.

Mrs Dubedat [with complete dignity] Will you wait for me a moment?  I will come back. [She goes out].

Walpole.  Ought we to follow her?  Is she in her right senses?

Sir Patrick [with quiet conviction].  Yes.  Shes all right.  Leave her alone.  She’ll come back.

Ridgeon [callously] Let us get this thing out of the way before she comes.

B. B. [rising, shocked] My dear Colly!  The poor lad!  He died splendidly.

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The Doctor's Dilemma from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.