"Alas, yes, sir!" with a profound sigh.
"Have you any children?"
Here, instead of replying, the poor mother gave way to a flood of tears.
"It is no use crying,—answer! Have you any children?"
"Yes, sir,—two little boys, and a girl of sixteen."
Then followed a string of questions impossible to repeat, but to which Jeanne could only reply in stammering, and after many severe rebukes from the doctor. The poor woman was overwhelmed with shame, compelled as she was to reply aloud to such questions before such a numerous auditory.
The doctor, completely absorbed by scientific feelings, did not give the smallest heed to Jeanne's distress, and continued:
"How long have you been ill?"
"Four days, sir," replied Jeanne, drying her tears.
"Tell us how your illness first disclosed itself."