I answered in a professional manner: "Madam, you are deaf."
"Well, you are right, Doctor, so I am; and I thought I would run in and see if you could help me."
I stepped to the Doctor's instrument case, and picking up some sort of a weapon, returned to the old lady, and stretching first one ear open and then the other, after making sure that she always turned her left ear to me to hear, I said:
"Madam, the drum of your right ear is almost entirely destroyed, and I am certain there is no help for it; but I can surely help your left ear."
MADAM, THE DRUM OF YOUR RIGHT EAR IS ALMOST ENTIRELY DESTROYED.—PAGE 297.
"Well, Doctor, I think you know your business, for I certainly can scarcely hear with my right ear. How much will it cost?"
"Ten dollars."
"Well, I don't want to pay out so much now, as I have already been to so much expense with it."