登陆注册
4907500000055

第55章

For five minutes more he walked up and down, calculating no longer the value of the furniture, but rather that of his own importance. He was not wont to be kept waiting in this way; and though Sir Roger Scatcherd was at present a great and rich man, Dr Fillgrave had remembered him a very small and a very poor man. He now began to think of Sir Roger as the stone-mason, and to chafe somewhat more violently at being so kept by such a man.

When one is impatient, five minutes is as the duration of all time, and a quarter of an hour is eternity. At the end of twenty minutes the step of Dr Fillgrave up and down the room had become very quick, and he had just made up his mind that he would not stay there all day to the serious detriment, perhaps fatal injury, of his other expectant patients. His hand was again on the bell, and was about to be used with vigour, when the door opened and Lady Scatcherd entered.

'Oh, laws!' Such had been her first exclamation on hearing that the doctor was in the dining-room. She was standing at the time with her housekeeper in a small room in which she kept her linen and jam, and in which, in company with the same housekeeper, she spent the happiest moments of her life.

'Oh laws! now, Hannah, what shall we do?'

'Send 'un up at once to master, my lady! let John take 'un up.'

'There'll be such a row in the house, Hannah; I know there will.'

'But surely didn't he send for 'un? Let the master have the row himself, then; that's what I'd do, my lady,' added Hannah, seeing that her ladyship still stood trembling in doubt, biting her thumb-nail.

'You couldn't go up to the master yourself, could now, Hannah?' said Lady Scatcherd in her most persuasive tone.

'Why no,' said Hannah, after a little deliberation; 'no, I'm afeard I couldn't.'

'Then I must just face it myself.' And up went the wife to tell her lord that the physician for whom he had sent had come to attend his bidding.

In the interview which then took place the baronet had not indeed been violent, but he had been very determined. Nothing on earth, he said, should induce him to see Dr Fillgrave and offend his dear old friend Dr Thorne.

'But Roger,' said her ladyship, half crying, or rather pretending to cry in vexation, 'what shall I do with the man? How shall I get him out of the house?'

'Put him under the pump,' said the baronet; and he laughed his peculiar low guttural laugh, which told so plainly of the havoc which brandy had made in his throat.

'That's nonsense, Roger; you know I can't put him under the pump. Now you are ill, and you'd better see him just for five minutes. I'll make it right with Dr Thorne.'

'I'll be d--- if I do, my lady.' All the people about Boxall Hill called poor Lady Scatcherd 'my lady' as if there was some excellent joke in it; and, so, indeed, there was.

'You know you needn't mind nothing he says, nor yet take nothing he sends: and I'll tell him not to come no more. Now do 'ee see him, Roger.'

But there was not coaxing Roger over now, indeed ever: he was a wilful, headstrong, masterful man; a tyrant always though never a cruel one; and accustomed to rule his wife and household as despotically as he did his gangs of workmen. Such men it is not easy to coax over.

'You go down and tell him I don't want him, and won't see him, and that's an end of it. If he chose to earn his money, why didn't he come yesterday when he was sent for? I'm well now, and don't want him; and what's more, I won't have him. Winterbones, lock the door.'

So Winterbones, who during this interview had been at work at his little table, got up to lock the door, and Lady Scatcherd had no alternative but to pass through it before the last edict was obeyed.

Lady Scatcherd, with slow step, went downstairs and again sought counsel with Hannah, and the two, putting their heads together, agreed that the only cure for the present evil was to found in a good fee. So Lady Scatcherd, with a five-pound note in her hand, and trembling in every limb, went forth to encounter the august presence of Dr Fillgrave.

As the door opened, Dr Fillgrave dropped the bell-rope which was in his hand, and bowed low to the lady. Those who knew the doctor well, would have known from his bow that he was not well pleased; it was as much as though he said, 'Lady Scatcherd, I am your most obedient servant; at any rate it appears that it is your pleasure to treat me as such.'

Lady Scatcherd did not understand all this; but she perceived at once that he was angry.

'I hope Sir Roger does not find himself worse,' said the doctor. 'The morning is getting on; shall I step up and see him?'

'Hem! ha! oh! Why, you see, Dr Fillgrave, Sir Roger finds hisself vastly better this morning, vastly so.'

'I'm very glad to hear it; but as the morning is getting on, shall I step up to see Sir Roger?'

'Why, Dr Fillgrave, sir, you see, he finds hisself so much hisself this morning, that he a'most thinks it would be a shame to trouble you.'

'A shame to trouble me!' This was the sort of shame which Dr Fillgrave did not at all comprehend. 'A shame to trouble me! Why Lady Scatcherd--'

Lady Scatcherd saw that she had nothing for it but to make the whole matter intelligible. Moreover, seeing that she appreciated more thoroughly the smallness of Dr Fillgrave's person more thoroughly than she did the peculiar greatness of his demeanour, she began to be a shade less afraid of him than she had thought she should have been.

'Yes, Dr Fillgrave; you see, when a man like he gets well, he can't abide the idea of doctors: now, yesterday, he was all for sending for you; but to-day he comes to hisself, and don't seem to want no doctor at all.'

Then did Dr Fillgrave seem to grow out of his boots, so suddenly did he take upon himself sundry modes of expansive attitude;--to grow out of his boots and to swell upwards, till his angry eyes almost looked down on Lady Scatcherd, and each erect hair bristled up towards the heavens.

同类推荐
  • 轻重乙

    轻重乙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 度一切诸佛境界智严经

    度一切诸佛境界智严经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 千手千眼观自在菩萨广大圆满无碍

    千手千眼观自在菩萨广大圆满无碍

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 吴船录

    吴船录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 玉豁子丹经指要

    玉豁子丹经指要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 冷面将军的鬼医爱妻

    冷面将军的鬼医爱妻

    乐正宛央做梦也没有想到,鬼手神医的她,有一天也赶上了穿越的队伍,还成为了其中的一员。缩小了十岁怕什么?年轻了,那是自己赚了;身处异世怕什么?在现代那日新月异人才辈出的地方自己都能混的风生水起,那么到了这落后的地方照样能活的有姿有彩;琴棋书画?算什么,随便一出戏,反响必定惊天动地;医术?鬼医一出手,就知有没有:只有她不想救的,没有救不了的;阴谋?没关系,兵来将挡,水来土掩;更何况还有爱妻如命的亲亲老公呢!墨尘怎么也没有明白,身为第一杀手的他,也有赶时髦的时刻。好吧,穿越就穿越吧,最让人难以接受的是,自己口口声声说用生命去守护的女子,却在自己的眼前消失,那么的无能为力。倒回十年没关系,忘记她却是自己不能容忍的事情;身在异世没什么,在现代那龙蛇混杂繁俗势利的地方自己都能独占鳌头,那么在这落后的地方照样能占得一席之地!杀手?“绝杀”可不是浪得虚名;从戎?从无名小卒到威武将军,也就那么一回事;陷害?三十六计,计计于心,顺手拈来,只有他算计人,哪有人算计得了他?更何况,身边还有魂牵梦萦的她——今生,必将护她一世幸福安康!片段:“老公,你喜欢男孩还是女孩?”“喜欢你!不过,只要和你生的,什么样都喜欢。”“老公,,你说我们生几个孩子好呢?”“只要你喜欢。”“可是我们得响应党的号召,要实行计划生育呢!”“老婆,这里是古代。”某将军泪流满面……“放心,即使这里也计划生育,我也能将它改成生育计划!”某女一脸傲娇“那些太遥远,我们现在先从第一个开始吧。”说完,某将军伟大的形象再次倒塌……简介无能无力,总之就是两个现代的娃子到了古代混日子的故事。本文一对一,男女主身心干净,无误会,无小三。看多了人性的丑陋,希望展现出至善至美的一面,因为我深信:世界本美好!
  • 夏日妍笑

    夏日妍笑

    我们是即将奔四的八零后,跨过三十五岁的坎,青春便和我们渐行渐远。一九九八年的夏天,十六岁的我们,懵懵懂懂,情窦初开,我们的青春便从这里开始。花样年华,似水流连,每一段小故事,每一个小插曲,都是我们人生的小美好。光阴飞逝,时光荏再,二十年过去,青春渐逝,容颜渐老,忆我们走过的岁月,致我们逝去的青春!
  • 封神双龙1

    封神双龙1

    商纣末年,妖魔乱政,两名身份卑贱的少年奴隶,于一次偶然的机会被卷进神魔争霸的洪流中,一个性格沉稳、温文尔雅,有着超凡的感悟力;另一个古灵精怪、活泼机智,满身的市井顽童气息,却聪明绝顶。
  • 穿越也疯狂之神捕女王爷

    穿越也疯狂之神捕女王爷

    穿越?没想到她火爆警花遭遇无间道,醒来一看,好家伙,她竟然穿越了!穿越到一个女尊时代,她忍!穿越到一个十岁小女孩身上,她再忍!穿越到棺材里诈尸?忍无可忍,无需再忍!谁敢害她,她直接让他死翘翘!要知道米饭不是白吃的,警花不是白混的,穿越不是白穿的!大眼一瞪,红唇一张,顿时再难破的案子也只不过是小菜一碟。媚眼一勾,纤手一伸,顿时再难搞定的帅哥美男也收入囊来。她是谁?她是名满金碧王朝的落雪郡主萧落雪,是女皇御赐的女王爷!吓,她可是太危险了!她喝天下最烈的酒,骑天下最快的马,抓天下最难抓的强盗,抢天下最好的男人当相公。她脾气坏到极点,性格差到极点,狂傲到极点,霸道到极点,拽到极点,更让人害怕的是,她杀人不眨眼!她杀人时狠辣无情,从来都是刀刀致命,剑剑无情,她才不管鲜血染了多少在手上。惹了她,她才不管你是王侯还是将相,她照杀不误!她为什么这么拽?她就是这么拽,因为她是皇上的堂妹,堂堂的落雪郡主,皇上的大红人。怎么,落雪郡主了不起啊?她说:“我就是了不起,不服气?咬我啊!”无语了吧,你看看萧落雪说的话就知道了。萧落雪语录一:“江湖规矩?算个屁!我萧落雪就是老大,就是规矩,就是江湖!”萧落雪语录二:“不想死的滚远点,想死的拔剑!”萧落雪语录三:“强抢民男?你哪只眼睛看到我抢了?我分明是强娶民男!我就是强娶,怎么了?”萧落雪语录四:“顺我者昌,逆我者亡!英雄谁属,非我莫属!”这个让百官头痛,百姓又爱又恨,皇帝又爱又气的女人,你敢娶吗?你敢要吗?本文非男尊,非历史,非专情,非传统。女尊+一女N男+架空历史,突破传统,不喜者请勿入内。++++==++++++++++广告:某思的其他文公众文《古钟奇缘》:穿越,已出版《滟歌大唐》:穿越,姐妹文VIP文《名门嫡女》新文,古代名门种田文《雷穿之色霸天下》:一女N男雷文《爆君的弃后》深宫悲情大戏《狂野总统》:现代灰姑娘文PS:重点推介!本文为“穿越也疯狂系列”文之一。纳兰鸿飞:穿越也疯狂之神龙女帝王洵碧:穿越也疯狂之神武女将军七月殇:穿越也疯狂之纯情小妖女沙哲漏:穿越也疯狂之强抢俏男妃翎曦玥:《狐狸也疯狂》
  • 关于风起时

    关于风起时

    后来的我们依然走着,只是不再并肩了,朝着各自的人生追寻了
  • 邪玉玲珑

    邪玉玲珑

    芸芸众生之下,强者为尊,前世如何?如今又如何?跳脱五行之外,至阴阳于掌中,谁又能将前世今生握于五指之上呢?
  • 为了您我愿意热爱百无聊赖的生活

    为了您我愿意热爱百无聊赖的生活

    赋予我瞻仰这个世界的权利的是您,让我认识生活的是您,为了您我愿意热爱,您是我生命的创始者,有了您,我才知道生活的百无聊赖,原来生活是即孤独又幸福的。好奇,期待,向往,失望,迷茫,不知所措,直到最后那一刻的幸福,谢谢您给我这一切。时间似火箭一般飞快,不知不觉我都二十二了。但是我们生活在一起的日子非常的短。真想无时无刻都和您都生活在一起,一刻也不要分开。早在多年以前,我心中就已经决定这一生只有才可以做我的父亲。您这么的努力都是为了让我过上更好的生活,这些我都明白。但是您要知道,对我来说,幸福并不是金钱,而是陪伴。
  • 辣妈当道:临时老公限时爱

    辣妈当道:临时老公限时爱

    一夜迷情,她被渣男贱女陷害,失身失心,惨遭渣男抛弃,被赶出家门。四年后,她带着萌萌哒小包子高调回国。偶然相遇四年前那晚的那个人。小包子:“你咋长得跟我那么像?难道你就是欺负我妈咪的混蛋爹地?”鄂易寒:“儿子,爹地会补偿你们。”某小只财迷包子掏出支付宝,微信,跟POS机:“混蛋爹地,请问刷卡还是现金?”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 梦里话大唐

    梦里话大唐

    在一个奇异的梦中空间,唐玄宗的孙子跟二十一世纪的初中生小胖子在此相遇,两人得以超越时空交流。从小胖子那,皇孙李倕得知五年之后就是安史之乱,面对国恨,他又该怎样改变大唐未来?李倕:胖子,我有点慌。齐俊:兄弟莫慌,我就是你的外挂。
  • 你还单身吗

    你还单身吗

    美艳动人的林苗,有一份令人羡慕的工作,却没有在对的时间遇见对的他……她无法接受渣男的背叛,带着女儿离开了那个让她伤心的家!不知道是无聊,还是内心空虚?她开始上网,认识了一个叫忘忧草的男人王晓峰!之后,发生了许多恋恋不忘的事……从此,她不再孤单,也不想再结婚,就这么单身吗?为什么?