“Then why don’t you speak out and tell me? Are you in pain?”
“Well, yes, sir, it is pain, and yet it ain’t, if you can understand that.”
“Well, Ned, I can’t. Let me fetch Doctor Instow.”
“No, no, sir, please don’t; he’d only laugh at me.”
“He would not be so unfeeling, I’m sure.”
“But he couldn’t do me no good, sir. Please don’t. Nobody but you could do me any good.”
“What nonsense, Ned! Just because I gave you a seidlitz powder once.”
“I don’t mean powders, sir.”
“Then what is the matter?”
“Oh, sir, you’d be just the same if you was like me. Can’t you see?”