The Equinox (Volume I, Number III)

MR. TODD 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 awretched 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! [Ae looks about him fearfully; his voice sinks to a thrilled whisper] I am so afraid—afraid to die! Is there nobody——. [Enter tovp, and stands by his chair, layinghis 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. [ropp 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 ! [ropp wheels him out of the room, the old man laugh- ing and chuckling. Enter OSSORY and EUPHEMIA, talking. ossory. I want to say a word, girlie, about young Del- 227