"Dear, dear," murmured Pargowker, going on placidly with his writing, "this is bad, very, very bad."
"Are you talking about your prescription, or yourself?" snapped Miss Corbin, dauntlessly. "I daresay they're much of a muchness. If one doesn't kill me, I've no doubt the other will."
"Pardon me, dearest lady," said the doctor, smiling blandly, "you are in error. This prescription will do you a great deal of good. Oh, we will pull you round, yes--yes. I think I may venture to say we will pull you round."
"Pull me round or square, it's easily seen I'm not long for this world," replied Miss Corbin.
"Oh, do not speak like that, Miss Jelly," whimpered Minnie, "you will get quite well, I'm sure of it."
"Aye! aye!" remarked Pargowker, folding up his prescription. "While there's life, there's hope."
"Don't quote your proverbs to me," said Aunt Jelly, determined not to be pleased by anything, "they're nothing but traditional lies; but seriously speaking, doctor, if you can speak seriously, which I'm very much inclined to doubt, I want to see my nephew, Sir Guy Errington, to-day."
"No! dearest lady, no!" said Pargowker, rising from his seat, and raising one hand in protest, "pardon me, no!--the very worst person you could see!"
"If you knew him as well as I do, you might well say that," replied Miss Corbin, malignantly, "but I must see him. It's imperative."
"If you will not excite yourself----"