Part 45 (1/2)

_Cad._ You are a good woman, Mrs Jellybags; and I shall not forget you in my will.

_Jel._ Don't mention wills, my dear sir. You make me so miserable.

(_Puts her handkerchief to her eyes._)

_Cad._ Don't cry, Mrs Jellybags. I wo'n't talk any more about it.

(_Sinks back exhausted._)

_Jel._ (_wiping her eyes._) Here comes Doctor Gumarabic.

_Enter Gumarabic._

_Gum._ Good morning, Mistress Jellybags. Well, how's our patient?--better?--heh? [_Mrs Jellybags shakes her head._

_Gum._ No: well, that's odd. (_Goes up to Mr Cadaverous._) Not better, my dear sir?--don't you feel stronger?

_Cad._ (_faintly_). Oh, no!

_Gum._ Not stronger! Let us feel the pulse. [_Mrs Jellybags hands a chair, and Gumarabic sits down, pulls out his watch, and counts._]

Intermittent--135--well, now--that's very odd! Mrs Jellybags, have you adhered punctually to my prescriptions?

_Jel._ Oh yes, sir, exactly.

_Gum._ He has eaten nothing?

_Cad._ Nothing at all.

_Gum._ And don't feel stronger? Odd--very odd! Pray, has he had anything in the way of drink? Come, Mrs Jellybags, no disguise,--tell the truth;--no soup--warm jelly--heh?

_Jel._ No, sir; upon my word, he has had nothing.

_Gum._ Humph!--and yet feels no stronger? Well, that's odd!--Has he taken the pill every half-hour?

_Jel._ Yes, sir, regularly.

_Gum._ And feels no better! Are you sure that he has had his draught with his pill?

_Jel._ Every time, sir.

_Gum._ And feels no better! Well, that's odd!--very odd, indeed! (_Rises and comes forward with Mrs Jellybags._) We must throw in some more draughts, Mrs Jellybags; there is no time to be lost.

_Jel._ I'm afraid he's much worse, sir.

_Gum._ I am not at all afraid of it, Mrs Jellybags,--I am sure of it;--it's very odd,--but the fact is, that all the physic in the world won't save him; but still he must take it,--because--physic was made to be taken.

_Jel._ Very true, sir. (_Whispers to Gumarabic._)

_Gum._ Ah! yes;--very proper. (_Going to Mr Cadaverous._) My dear sir, I have done my best; nevertheless, you are ill,--very ill,--which is odd,--very odd! It is not pleasant,--I may say, very unpleasant,--but if you have any little worldly affairs to settle,--will to make,--or a codicil to add, in favour of your good nurse, your doctor, or so on,--it might be as well to send for your lawyer;--there is no saying, but, during my practice, I have sometimes found that people die. After all the physic you have taken, it certainly is odd--very odd--very odd, indeed;--but you might die to-morrow.