'Was it from some alarm, some noise?'
'I ... I don't ... quite know.'
'Well, she got excited? Did she cry out?'
'Yes ... she did.'
'Why did you let her get excited? Why did you not let her have what she wanted? Do you know the danger your daughter is running?'
'I do not know ... I know nothing. What do you expect me to know?' the old man shouted, holding out his hands, beseeching like a child.
'The danger is of meningitis,' said the doctor through his clenched teeth.
Now the invalid had half opened her eyes. The doctor examined her pupils. Her eye seemed glassy, rigid, as her whole person had got.
'Doctor, what is it? is she dead?' yelled the old man, as if he were mad.
'It is temporary paralysis, from meningitis.'