Dr. Jonathan.  George, will you take this?

   (He holds the glass while George drinks.  To Dr. Frye:)

There’s a lounge in Mr. Pindar’s study.

(To Augusta:) Get a blanket.

   (Augusta goes toward the door, lower right, while Minnie Starts to
   retire.)

We’ll need you, Minnie.

(He hands Minnie the glass, dropper and phial.  The two physicians pick George up and carry him out, left, followed by Minnie.  Asher goes a little way and then halts with a despairing gesture.  Augusta having gone for the blanket, Asher is left alone, pacing, until she returns.)

Augusta (going through the room from right to left, with the blanket). 
Ah, Asher!

   (Asher begins pacing again, when Dr. Frye reenters from the left.)

Asher.  Is there—­is there any hope?

Dr. Frye (his hand on ASHER’S sleeve).  I can tell you more when I have had a chance to talk with Dr. Pindar.  This seems to be one of his cases —­but I confess, when I mentioned Barnwell, I didn’t think of him.  The situation came so suddenly.  And in spite of his name being yours, I didn’t expect to find him here.

Asher.  Then you know of Jonathan?

Dr. Frye.  I didn’t know of him until I read the book which he published about a year ago.  When I was in Baltimore in March, I asked for him at Johns Hopkins’s, and they told me that he had gone to New England for his health.  Extraordinary to meet him here—­and today!

Asher.  What book?  He’s never spoken to me of any book.

Dr. Frye.  On the Physical Effects of Mental Crises.  There has been a good deal of controversy about it in the profession, but I’m one of those who believe that the physician must seek to cure, not only the body, but the soul.  We make a guess—­though he’s published no religion—­the true scientist is the minister of the future.

Asher.  I never realized that Jonathan—!

Dr. Frye (smiling a little).  No prophet is without honour save in his own country.

Asher.  What has he given George?

Dr. Frye.  I can’t tell you exactly, but I can make a guess—­though he’s published no account of his recent experiments.

   (As Dr. Jonathan reenters from the left.)

He will undoubtedly tell you himself. (Exit Dr. Frye, left.)

Asher.  Will he live?

Dr. Jonathan.  I’ll be frank with you, Asher,—­I don’t know.  All we can do is to wait.

Asher.  I call God to witness there’s nothing I wouldn’t do, no sacrifice I wouldn’t make, if that boy could be saved!

Dr. Jonathan.  Remember that, Asher.