Harvey. A patient may ask questions. In your experience, did you always answer them?
Enter Laddie (running after his father,
whose hand he hurries to catch and
clasp).
Dr. Thorne (pointing to the architecture beyond). And those public buildings yonder—what do you call them?
Harvey. Those are our institutions of education and of mercy. They are a great pleasure to us. We have our temples, colleges, music halls, libraries, schools of science, hospitals, galleries of art, as a matter of course. What did you suppose we did with our intellects and our leisure?
Dr. Thorne. I never supposed anything on the subject. I never thought about it.
Harvey. Precisely. You are very ignorant—for a man of your gifts. Now, our hospitals—
Dr. Thorne. Pray do not mock me, Doctor Harvey. If you had a hospital, you could find me something to do. The humiliating idleness of this place crushes me. I seem to be of no more use here than a paralytic patient was in my own charity ward at home. I am become of no more social importance than the janitor or the steward used to be. I am of no consequence. I am not in demand. No person desires my services. The canker of idleness eats upon me. Here, in this world of spirits, I am an unscientific, useless fellow. If you have anything whatever in the shape of a hospital, I beg you to find me employment in it. At least, I could keep the temperature charts, if I am not to be trusted with any cases.
Harvey (smiling sadly). Your cure proceeds but slowly, my patient. I did not think you were a dull man. Must you be taught the elements? Our sick are not of the body, but are sick of soul. Our patients are chiefly from among the newly arrived who are at odds with the spirit of the place; hence, they suffer discomfort. Can you administer holiness to a will and heart diseased?
(Dr. Thorne shakes his head; bows it in bitter silence. He stands lost in thought. As he does so, sunset deepens to twilight on the land. Laddie drops his father’s hand; plays among the annunciation lilies. Harvey, with a courtly salute, retires. He does not speak further to Dr. Thorne.)
[Exit Harvey.