Big Boy called the doctor, and was told he would be there at once, then he threw himself on the bed beside Pearl, taking her in his arms, kissing her and trying to stop her from crying.
"You see, you don't trust me—then you call me a liar—and then you beat me," said Pearl, between sobs, as she thought, "I'll put on a real show for him, I'll make him shell out some dough for this."
"Oh, honey, can't you see I'm crazy about you—honestly nuts for you? If I didn't love you, I wouldn't be jealous of you, would I? I'll never do that again—will you believe me—let me get you a glass of water—please don't cry—come on, straighten up—the doctor will be here in a minute," as he held her in his arms.
A rap came on the door.
"Come in," called Big Boy, as he got off the bed, "Oh, hello, Doc—I want you to fix this eye for Miss Jones—she had a little accident."
The doctor walked over to the bed, stooped over Pearl, and looked at her eye, already swollen shut, and turning a deep blue.
"That's a peach," said the doctor, "How did you get it?"
"I was coming in the door, doctor, and I dropped my key on the floor, and as I stooped over to pick it up, I hit my eye on the door-knob," lied Pearl.
"Well, it's the first door-knob I've ever seen that left knuckle prints," laughed the doctor, as he went to work to fix the eye.
"How long will it be black, doctor?" asked Pearl.