The Winged Beetle

MR TODD 191 GRANDFATHER. Bitter cold, Charley, for us old people ! Nothing right nowadays ! Oh, my poor leg ! Bitter, bitter cold ! I mind me, more than sixty years ago now—oh dear ! oh dear ! Run and tell Nurse I want my liniment ! Oh dear ! oh dear ! what a wretched world. Sciatics—like rats gnawing, gnawing at you, Charley. CHARLEY. You frighten me, grampa ! Why doesn’t Mr. Carr come and play with me ? GRANDFATHER. He has gone out with your mother. He’ll come by-and-by, no doubt. Run and fetch Nurse, Charley ! [CHARLEY runs off. Oh dear ! I wish I could find a good doctor. Nobody seems to do me any good. It’s pain, pain all the time. Nurse ! can’t you tell me of a good doctor ? For oh ! for oh ! [He looks about him fearfully ; his voice sinks to a thrilled whisper] I am so afraid—afraid to die ! Is there nobody—— [Enter TODD, and stands by his chair, laying his hand on the old man’s shoulder. He looks up. I wish you were a doctor, Mr. Todd. You have such a soothing touch. Perhaps you are a doctor ? I can get nobody to do me any good. [TODD whispers in his ear. The old man brightens up at once. Why, yes ! I should think that would relieve me at once. Very good ! Very good ! [TODD wheels him out of the room, the old man laughing and chuckling. Enter OSSORY and EUPHEMIA, talking.