"You haven't left me anything to do." The surgeon turned approvingly to Élise.
"Mr. Firmstone did that."
The surgeon laughed.
"That's Élise every time. She's always laying the blame on someone else. Never got her to own up to anything of this kind in my life."
Joe senior and his wife came breathless into the room. Mrs. Joe threw herself on the boy with all the abandon of the genuine Latin. Joe looked at Élise, then dragged his wife aside.
"The boy's all right now, Joe. You can take him home. I'll be in to see him later." The surgeon turned to leave the room.
Joe never stirred; only looked at Élise.
"It's all right, Joe."
The surgeon shrugged his shoulders in mock despair.
"There it is again. I'm getting to be of no account."