(They seat themselves at the table.)
Mrs. Thorne. You poor boy! You poor, tired, hungry fellow! I hope the dinner will please you? (Timidly.)
Dr. Thorne (testily). Really, I hadn’t time to come at all. I’ve got to go again in ten minutes. But I supposed you would worry if I didn’t show myself. It’s a foolish waste of time. I wish I hadn’t come.
Mrs. Thorne (speaking in a low, controlled, articulate voice). You need not. On my account. You need never come again.
Dr. Thorne (irritably). It is easier to come than to know you sit here making yourself miserable because I don’t.
Mrs. Thorne (gently). Have I ever fretted you about coming, Esmerald? I did not know it.
Dr. Thorne. It would be easier if you did fret. I’d rather you’d say a thing than look it. Any man would.... This soup is burned!
Mrs. Thorne. Too bad! I gave special orders to Jane—that is really too bad. Let me send it away.
Dr. Thorne (excitedly). No, I’ve got to get down something. Bring on the rest—if there is anything fit to eat. I’m due at the Hospital in twenty-two minutes. Gazell is behaving like the devil. If I’m not to handle him, nobody can. The whole staff is afraid of him—everybody but me. We sha’n’t get the new ward built these two years if he carries the day to-night. I’ve got a consultation at Decker’s. The old lady is dying. It’s no use dragging a tired man out there; I can’t do her any good. But they will have it. I’m at the beck and call of every whim. I wish I’d had time to change my boots! My feet are wet. My head aches horribly. I had an enormous office—sixty people; forty here—twenty down-town—besides my calls. I’ve seen eighty sick people to-day. I was a fool to agree to that noon office hour.—I’ve lost ten thousand dollars in this panic. Brake telephoned me to get down to Stock Street to save what I could. I couldn’t get off.... I lost a patient this morning—that little girl at the Harrohart’s. She was a poor little scrofulous thing, but they are terribly cut up about it.—I wish you’d had a good, clear soup. I hate these opaque things.
Mrs. Thorne. But last time we had consommé, you said—