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Le Fanu, Joseph Sheridan, 1814-1873

"Uncle Silas A Tale of Bartram-Haugh"


So he did not care to hear how his daughter was, and had only come here to
light his pipe!
Just then the Doctor emerged.
'We have been waiting to hear how your poor patient is to-day?' I said.
'Very ill, indeed, and utterly neglected, I fear. If she were equal
to it--but she's not--I think she ought to be removed to the hospital
immediately.'
'That poor old woman is quite deaf, and the man is so surly and selfish!
Could you recommend a nurse who would stay here till she's better? I will
pay her with pleasure, and anything you think might be good for the poor
girl.'
So this was settled on the spot. Doctor Jolks was kind, like most men
of his calling, and undertook to send the nurse from Feltram with a few
comforts for the patient; and he called Dickon to the yard-gate, and I
suppose told him of the arrangement; and Milly and I went to the poor
girl's door and asked, 'May we come in?'
There was no answer. So, with the conventional construction of silence, we
entered. Her looks showed how ill she was. We adjusted her bed-clothes, and
darkened the room, and did what we could for her--noting, beside, what her
comfort chiefly required.


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