Nan came in, pressed Stuart's hand as she passed, nodded good morning and joined her voice to Stuart's.
"Come, you must go, Cal. It's a glorious day."
The doctor slipped in a word, too.
"By all means, Mr. Bivens, get your hand in the first day."
Bivens lifted himself to a half-sitting posture, glared at his physician and yelled with fury:
"Get out—all of you—and let me alone!"
The doctor and Nan left on tip-toe, but Stuart folded his arms and looked at Bivens.
"I'd just like to choke you," he quietly said at last.
Bivens turned on him with rage.
"How dare you speak to me in that manner?"