Part 4 (1/2)

”I have completely forgotten it.”

”Then I was sorry, and said I would have come off sooner if I had known it was a foot. You _must_ remember that?” The man half smiled as he shook a slow-disclaiming head--one that would have remembered so gladly, if it could. ”Then,” continues Sally, ”I saw your thumb-ring for rheumatism.”

”My thumb-ring!” He presses his fingers over his closed eyes, as though to give Memory a better chance by shutting off the visible present, then withdraws them. ”No, I remember no ring at all.”

”How extraordinary!”

”I remember a violent concussion _somewhere_--I can't say where--and then finding myself in a cab, trying to speak to a lady whose face seemed familiar to me, but who she could be I had not the slightest idea. Then I tried to get out of the cab, and found I could not move--or hardly.”

”Look at mamma again! Here she is, come.” For Mrs. Nightingale has come into the room, looking white. ”Yes, mother dear, I have. Quite full up to the brim. Only it isn't ready to pour yet.” This last concerns the tea.

Mrs. Nightingale moves round behind the tea-maker, and comes full-face in front of her guest. One might have fancied that the hand that held the pocket-handkerchief that caused the smell of eau-de-Cologne that came in with her was tremulous. But then that very eau-de-Cologne was eloquent about the recent effect of the heat. Of course, she was a little upset. Nothing strikes either the doctor or Mademoiselle Sally as abnormal or extraordinary. The latter resumes:

”Surely, sir! Oh, you must, you _must_ remember about the name Nightingale?”

”This young gentleman said it just now. _Your_ name, madame?”

”Certainly, my name,” says the lady addressed. But Sally distinguishes:

”Yes, but I didn't mean that. I meant when I took the ring from you, and was to pay for it. Sixpence. And you had no change for half-a-crown. And then I gave you my mother's card to send it to us here. One-and-elevenpence, because of the postage. Why, surely you can remember that!” She cannot bring herself to believe him. Dr. Vereker does, though, and tells him not to try recollecting; he will only put himself back. ”Take the tea and wait a bit,” is the doctor's advice.

For Miss Sally is transmitting a cup of tea with studied equilibrium.

He receives it absently, leaving it on the table.

”I do not know if you will know what I mean,” he says, ”but I have a sort of feeling of--of being frightened; for I have been trying to remember things, and I find I can remember almost nothing. Perhaps I should say I cannot remember _at all_--can't do any recollecting, if you understand.” Every one can understand--at least, each says so.

Sally goes on, half _sotto voce_: ”You can recollect your own name, I suppose?” She speaks half-way between soliloquy and dialogue. The doctor throws in counsel, aside, for precaution.

”You'll only make matters worse, like that. Better leave him quite alone.”

But the man's hearing doesn't seem to have suffered, for he catches the remark about his name.

”I can't tell,” he says. ”I am not so sure. Of course, I can't have forgotten my own name, because that's impossible. I will tell it you in a minute.... Oh dear!...”

The young doctor seemed to disapprove highly of these efforts, and to wish to change the conversation. ”Let it alone now,” said he. ”Only for a little. Would you kindly allow me to see your arm again?”

”Let him drink his tea first.” This is from Miss Sally, the tea-priestess. ”Another cup?” But no; he won't take another cup, thanks.

”Now let's have the coat off, and get another look at the arm; never mind apologizing.” But the patient had not contemplated apology. It was the stiffness made him slow. However, he got his coat off, and drew the blue s.h.i.+rt off his left arm. He had a fine hand and arm, but the hand hung inanimate, and the fingers looked scorched. Dr. Vereker began feeling the arm at intervals all the way up, and asking each time questions about the degree of sensibility.

”I couldn't say whether it's normal or not up there.” So the patient testified. And Mrs. Nightingale, who was watching the examination intently, suggested trying the other arm in the same place for comparison.

”You didn't see the other arm at the station, doctor?” she said.

”Didn't I?”

”I was asking.”

”Well, no. Now I come to think of it, I don't think I did. We'll have a look now, anyhow.”

”_You're_ a nice doctor!” This is from Miss Sally; a little confidential fling at the profession. She is no respecter of persons.

Her mother would, no doubt, check her--a pert little monkey!--only she is absorbed in the examination.

The doctor, as he ran back the right-arm sleeve, uttered an exclamation. ”Why, my dear sir,” cried he, ”here we have it! What more can we want?”--and pointed at the arm. And Sally said, as though relieved: ”He's got his name written on him plain enough, anyhow!” Her mother gave a sigh of relief, or something like it, and said, ”Yes.”