“There, you are better now.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, indeed you are. This has nothing to do with the operation, I assure you.”
“Then, pray, what is it?” This question very sharply, and the patient moved in her bed in a way that showed very little feebleness.
“Simply hysteria.”
“What! Sterricks?”
“Yes, a form of hysterics.”
“There!” cried the patient, with a triumphant tone in her voice. “I knew you didn’t know nothing about it. I never had sterricks in my life.”
“Because you have always been a woman in a vigorous state of health. Latterly you have been brought down rather low.”
“’Taint that,” said the woman sharply, “it’s what’s done to me here, and the shameful neglect. It’s horrid; I’m half killed, and then Mr Neil goes away and leaves me to that horrible old man, and as soon as Mr Neil’s gone, the other leaves me to die.”