Page 958 - of-human-bondage-

come at once?’
‘Tell Mrs. Fletcher I’m coming,’ called out Doctor South.
The little girl hesitated for a moment, and putting a dirty
finger in a dirty mouth stood still and looked at Philip.
‘What’s the matter, Kid?’ said Philip, smiling.
‘Please, sir, Mrs. Fletcher says, will the new doctor come?’
There was a sound in the dispensary and Doctor South
came out into the passage.
‘Isn’t Mrs. Fletcher satisfied with me?’ he barked. ‘I’ve at-
tended Mrs. Fletcher since she was born. Why aren’t I good
enough to attend her filthy brat?’
The little girl looked for a moment as though she were
going to cry, then she thought better of it; she put out her
tongue deliberately at Doctor South, and, before he could
recover from his astonishment, bolted off as fast as she
could run. Philip saw that the old gentleman was annoyed.
‘You look rather fagged, and it’s a goodish way to Ivy
Lane,’ he said, by way of giving him an excuse not to go
himself.
Doctor South gave a low snarl.
‘It’s a damned sight nearer for a man who’s got the use of
both legs than for a man who’s only got one and a half.’
Philip reddened and stood silent for a while.
‘Do you wish me to go or will you go yourself?’ he said
at last frigidly.
‘What’s the good of my going? They want you.’
Philip took up his hat and went to see the patient. It was
hard upon eight o’clock when he came back. Doctor South
was standing in the dining-room with his back to the fire-