The Equinox (Volume I, Number VII)

THE EQUINOX I wonder if he'll see that Christmas turkey—ha! ha! ha! Hullo, dear! Didn‘t see you, little white mouse! Let's have coffee, dear, and the brown brandy. No more patients for a bit. Come along, Fielding, eh? [He leads FIELDING to the consulting-mom, while MRS. BOB goes aut L.] Dr. F. This is an exceptional case, old man. I do hope you won‘t frighten her. Dr. B. Great God! always the same old story. They never come to me until the rest of you have finished them, and then it’s my candid opinion you want. Then you get it, by Heaven ! and instead of blaming yourselves, or the patient, or the disease, you blame me. \Vhy don’t you give me a chance? Why don’t you bring them while there 2'5 hope? You all look upon me as the undertaker—Doctor Doom'em, isn’t it ?—because you are afraid to tell the patient what nine times out of ten you know as well as I do. Doctor Doom‘em ! Dr. F. Now, old man, don't get excited. Dr. B. Excited! Why my life would be one long hell if I hadn’t chosen a very simple method. Tell the truth. I‘m not a lawyer, paid to tell lies. Tell the truth Then I’ve done my part; my conscience is clear; I eat hearty and sleep sound. Dr. F. But is it always best to tell the truth? May you not sometimes overlook a grain of hope, and kill it by your diagnosis? [Enter MRS. BOB “ΖΜ 6W2. Mrs. Β. Ican‘t believe it is right to send away people smashed. Dr. F‘ Yes ; you're a hanging judge. 68