“Oh!” He looked up at her, then made an effort, and aroused himself to answer. “Thank you, Maria, but I do not care for any lunch to-day.”
“You didn’t eat nothin’ for your breakfast.”
“Oh, yes, I did, Maria.” He smiled at her very gently. “I am much stronger and in better health than you will believe. I am not living an active life just now. I do not require the same amount of food as a young thing like you.”
“You are sick, Doctor,” she spoke anxiously. “You can’t live like you have been living for the last six months, doing nothing and eating less. You’ll be on your back the first thing I know; then how will I take care of you?”
“You are a good girl, Maria, but I am quite equal to my work. I only wish that I had more to do.”
“You can’t get patients sittin’ here, dreamin’ over that darned thing!” She pointed angrily at the electrical machine on the table. “You could have all the patients you could take care of if you’d only try to get ’em. There ain’t a better doctor in the world.”
“You are a very loyal little thing, Maria.”
“No, I ain’t. I’ve done somethin’ I hadn’t no right to do. I’m going to tell yer because I’m ashamed, but I’m mighty glad I did it just the same.”
“What have you done?” He spoke quickly, seeing by her manner that she had something of more than usual importance on her mind.
“I wrote a letter,” she answered defiantly, “most three weeks ago, the very first letter I ever wrote in my life.”