登陆注册
4708600000110

第110章

When Dr Thorne reached Boxall Hill he found Mr Rerechild from Barchester there before him. Poor Lady Scatcherd, when her husband was stricken by the fit, hardly knew in her dismay what adequate steps to take. She had, as a matter of course, sent for Dr Thorne; but she had thought it so grave a peril that the medical skill of no one man could suffice. It was, she knew, quite out of the question for her to invoke the aid of Dr Fillgrave, whom no earthly persuasion could have brought to Boxall Hill; and as Mr Rerechild was supposed in the Barchester world to be second--though at a long interval--to that great man, she had applied for his assistance.

Now Mr Rerechild was a follower and humble friend of Dr Fillgrave; and was wont to regard anything that came from the Barchester doctor as sure as light from the lamp of Aesculapius. He could not therefore be other than an enemy of Dr Thorne. But he was a prudent, discreet man, with a long family, averse to professional hostilities, as knowing that he could make more by medical friends than medical foes, and not at all inclined to take up any man's cudgel to his own detriment. He had, of course, heard of that dreadful affront which had been put upon his friend, as had all the 'medical world'--and all the medical world at least of Barsetshire; and he had often expressed sympathy with Dr Fillgrave and his abhorrence of Dr Thorne's anti-professional practices. But now that he found himself about to be brought in contact with Dr Thorne, he reflected that the Galen of Greshamsbury was at any rate equal in reputation to him of Barchester; that the one was probably on the rise, whereas the other was already considered by some as rather antiquated; and he therefore wisely resolved that the present would be an excellent opportunity for him to make a friend of Dr Thorne.

Poor Lady Scatcherd had an inkling that Dr Fillgrave and Mr Rerechild were accustomed to row in the same boat, and she was not altogether free from fear that there might be an outbreak. She therefore took an opportunity before Dr Thorne's arrival to deprecate any wrathful tendency.

'Oh, Lady Scatcherd! I have the greatest respect for Dr Thorne,' said he; 'the greatest possible respect; a most skilful practitioner--something brusque, certainly, and perhaps a little obstinate. But what then? we have all our faults, Lady Scatcherd.'

'Oh--yes; we all have, Mr Rerechild; that's a certain.'

'There's my friend Fillgrave--Lady Scatcherd. He cannot bear anything of that sort. Now I think he's wrong; and so I tell him.' Mr Rerechild was in error here; for he had never yet ventured to tell Dr Fillgrave that he was wrong in anything. 'We must bear and forbear, you know. Dr Thorne is an excellent man--in his way very excellent, Lady Scatcherd.'

This little conversation took place after Mr Rerechild's first visit to his patient: what steps were immediately taken for the relief of the sufferer we need not describe. They were doubtless well intended, and were, perhaps, as well adapted to stave off the coming evil day as any that Dr Fillgrave, or even the great Sir Omicron Pie might have used.

And then Dr Thorne arrived.

'Oh, doctor! doctor!' exclaimed Lady Scatcherd, almost hanging round his neck in the hall. 'What are we to do? What are we to do? He's very bad.'

'Has he spoken?'

'No; nothing like a word: he has made one or two muttered sounds; but, poor soul, you could make nothing of it--oh, doctor! doctor! he has never been like this before.

It was easy to see where Lady Scatcherd placed any such faith as she might still have in the healing art. 'Mr Rerechild is here and has seen him,' she continued. 'I thought it best to send for two, for fear of accidents. He has done something--I don't know what. But, doctor, do tell the truth now; I look to you to tell me the truth.'

Dr Thorne went up and saw his patient; and had he literally complied with Lady Scatcherd's request, he might have told her at once that there was no hope. As, however, he had not the heart to do this, he mystified the case as doctors so well know how to do, and told her that 'there was cause to fear, great cause for fear; he was sorry to say, very great cause for much fear.'

Dr Thorne promised to stay the night there, and, if possible, the following night also; and then Lady Scatcherd became troubled in her mind as to what she should do with Mr Rerechild. He also declared, with much medical humanity, that, let the inconvenience be what it might, he too would stay the night. 'The loss,' he said, 'of such a man as Sir Roger Scatcherd was of such paramount importance as to make other matters trivial. He would certainly not allow the whole weight to fall on the shoulders of his friend Dr Thorne: he also would stay at any rate that night by the sick man's bedside. By the following morning some change might be excpected.'

'I say, Dr Thorne,' said her ladyship, calling the doctor into the housekeeping-room, in which she and Hannah spent any time that they were not required upstairs; 'just come in, doctor: you wouldn't tell him we don't want him no more, could you?'

'Tell whom?' said the doctor.

'Why--Mr Rerechild: mightn't he go away, do you think?'

Dr Thorne explained that Mr Rerechild might go away if he pleased; but that it would by no means be proper for one doctor to tell another to leave the house. And so Mr Rerechild was allowed to share the glories of the night.

In the meantime the patient remained speechless; but it soon became evident that Nature was using all her efforts to make one final rally.

From time to time he moaned and muttered as though he was conscious, and it seemed as though he strove to speak. He gradually became awake, at any rate to suffering, and Dr Thorne began to think that the last scene would be postponed for yet a while longer.

'Wonderful constitution--eh, Dr Thorne? wonderful!' said Mr Rerechild.

'Yes; he has been a strong man.'

'Strong as a horse, Dr Thorne. Lord, what that man would have been if he had given himself a chance! You know his constitution of course.'

同类推荐
  • Beatrice

    Beatrice

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 仲夏夜之梦

    仲夏夜之梦

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 水浒传注略

    水浒传注略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 孀妹殊遇

    孀妹殊遇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 海岛算经

    海岛算经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 糖

    新邻居通宵赶稿后,那天我足足睡了9个小时,起床时已是傍晚时分。刚喝下一大杯凉开水,我就听到了梆梆的敲门声。门一打开,快递师傅便对我苦笑道:“您住得可真够偏的,在这一带问个路都找不着人呐!”他身后立着一个一人高的纸箱。我跳过了开箱检查的环节,迅速签了单。快递师傅的车刚发动,我便放倒纸箱,就地肢解了它。
  • 我家皇叔萌萌哒

    我家皇叔萌萌哒

    【爽文!宠文!宠文!宠文!宠字强调三遍!】上辈子蠢死的苏月桐重生了!重生的第一件事,当然是让自己爽!于是当街退婚,戳穿渣男,再一顿吊打,让他记住了敢惹姑奶奶的下场!重生的第二件事,还是让自己爽!白莲花,绿茶婊,扎堆来,照单全收,统统往死里整!整不死还来?苏月桐扭头看向身后英武帅气的男人,“嘤嘤嘤,皇叔她们欺负我……”楚奕寒摸她狗头,一脸宠溺:“乖~”苏月桐再回首,谈笑间贱人灰飞烟灭,不留一丝渣渣。“月儿,收拾完贱人该办正事了。”“什……什么正事?皇叔你靠这么近做什么?”“我的衣服,别扯!”啊喂能不能好好演高冷皇叔了?她还是颗小嫩芽呢!
  • 互杀

    互杀

    大雨从下午两点开始,一直下到深夜。这是个睡觉的好日子。汪林醒来时,已经八点了,他匆匆抹了把脸,就直奔餐厅。餐厅在旅馆的底楼,大门紧闭,平时总在那儿忙碌的祁薇薇和祁大妈竟踪影全无。“难道都已经吃完收拾好了?”这个念头一冒出来,汪林就否定了。不可能这么快,再说,餐厅的大门白天也从来不锁的。汪林往里走,见一间屋子房门大开。他一步跨进去,两眼一下直了:一个女人脸朝下伏在地上,一动不动,周围到处都是血,那些血呈暗紫色,显然已凝固多时了。
  • 九州·戏中人

    九州·戏中人

    一款名为“九州”的网络游戏,玩家在游戏里受到重伤或被杀死时,在真实世界中就会精神失常?多重角色扮演,辰月教长竟是穿越来的现实游戏玩家,无名天驱小武士如何阻止一场九州历史上最大的战争?一场最伤感的“网恋”,当大学游戏宅男爱上二次元的杀手美少女,没有未来的爱将情归何处?游戏里,天驱武士挫败辰月阴谋;现实中,好友反目,生死对决!
  • 苍翠星辰剑

    苍翠星辰剑

    龙吟破日明珠泪,沧海问天画境灰。流星拨云离心剑,太平乾坤星辰追。
  • 穿越战国之神级系统

    穿越战国之神级系统

    战国时代,是中华文明的根源。穿越战国,齐国太子,神级系统,无所不能。战国的转折点来自于他,改兵制,握兵权,废贵族,谋发展,新科技,扫文盲,举兵灭国,统一中原我为帝!结束了吗?没有!灭匈奴,平百越,战罗马,一统全球我为王!蓝星科技,灿烂辉煌在战国,宇宙文明新方向!最新签约新书《诸界最强搬运工》正在火热连载,欢迎大家收藏阅读。
  • 夏商西周的社会变迁(当代中国人文大系)

    夏商西周的社会变迁(当代中国人文大系)

    研究夏商西周时期的社会性质,是本书着重注意的地方。专家们关于古史分期问题的研究近年来取得了很大进展。本书试图从正面进行阐述,提出一些与以往不同的看法,以论证夏商西周的社会性质问题。
  • 重生之女神逆袭归来

    重生之女神逆袭归来

    重生大小姐逆袭复仇,收获爱情走上人生巅峰.
  • 和萧侍御监祭白帝城

    和萧侍御监祭白帝城

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 寒少的心尖宝贝2

    寒少的心尖宝贝2

    “你就是个疯子!”凤厉寒吝啬地连一个眼神都不给她,可见对她是讨厌到了极致。“修来,搜!……