"No, dearest lady, no," he said in his heavy, soft voice, "do not I beg of you think you are so bad as all that. You remind me, if I may be permitted to make the comparison, of a dear friend of mine who departed----"
"Bother your dear friend!" snapped Aunt Jelly in her grimmest manner. "I didn't ask you here to tell me other people's histories. I want to know about my own state of health."
Dr. Pargowker folded his chubby hands complacently on his rotund stomach and meekly ventured a protest against this language.
"Do not, oh dearest lady," he said unctuously, "do not excite yourself like this. It is bad for you, dearest lady, very bad."
"Very bad, dear Miss Corbin," echoed Minnie tearfully.
"And might lead to complications," pursued the doctor, shaking his head.
"Complications," echoed Miss Pelch, putting her handkerchief to her eyes.
"Minnie," said Aunt Jelly politely, "you're getting a bigger fool every day. Have the goodness to hold your tongue and not talk of things you know nothing about. Dr. Pargowker, if you will kindly leave off nodding your head like a Chinese mandarin, and tell me straight out what you mean, I should feel obliged."
"Dearest lady," growled the doctor, "it is useless to conceal from you the painful fact that you are very ill."
"I know that sir," retorted Aunt Jelly coolly, "go on."