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The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University

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“What n<strong>on</strong>sense!” she said at <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

“I assure you ….”<br />

“I’d like to bet it’s nothing serious at all.”<br />

“My dear young lady,” said Mr. Bennett, piqued. “I<br />

have devoted a c<strong>on</strong>siderable part of my life to medical<br />

study ….”<br />

“I know. That’s <strong>the</strong> trouble. People oughtn’t to be<br />

allowed to read medical books.”<br />

“Well, we need not discuss it,” said Mr. Bennett stiffly.<br />

He resented being dragged out of <strong>the</strong> valley of <strong>the</strong> shadow<br />

of death by <strong>the</strong> scruff of his neck like this. A dying man has<br />

his dignity to think of. “I will leave you now, and go and<br />

see young Mortimer.” He clung to a hope that Bream<br />

Mortimer at least would receive him fittingly. “Good-night!”<br />

“But wait a moment!”<br />

Mr. Bennett left <strong>the</strong> room, unheeding. He was glad<br />

to go. Jane Hubbard irritated him.<br />

His expectati<strong>on</strong> of getting more satisfactory results<br />

from Bream was fulfilled. It took some time to rouse<br />

that young man from a slumber almost as deep as his<br />

fa<strong>the</strong>r’s; but, <strong>on</strong>ce roused, he showed a gratifying ap-<br />

<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Girl</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Boat</strong><br />

124<br />

preciati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> gravity of affairs. Joy at <strong>on</strong>e half of his<br />

visitor’s news competed with c<strong>on</strong>sternati<strong>on</strong> and sympathy<br />

at <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r half. He thanked Mr. Bennett profusely,<br />

showed a fitting c<strong>on</strong>cern <strong>on</strong> learning of his terrible<br />

situati<strong>on</strong>, and evinced a practical desire to help<br />

by offering him a bottle of liniment which he had found<br />

useful for gnat-stings. Declining this, though not ungratefully,<br />

Mr. Bennett withdrew and made his way<br />

down <strong>the</strong> passage again with something approaching<br />

a glow in his heart. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> glow lasted till he had almost<br />

reached <strong>the</strong> landing, when it was dissipated by a soft<br />

but compelling voice from <strong>the</strong> doorway of Miss<br />

Hubbard’s room.<br />

“Come here!” said Miss Hubbard. She had put <strong>on</strong> a<br />

blue bath-robe, and looked like a pugilist about to enter<br />

<strong>the</strong> ring.<br />

“Well?” said Mr. Bennett coldly, coming never<strong>the</strong>less.<br />

“I’m going to have a look at that t<strong>on</strong>gue of yours,”<br />

said Jane firmly. “It’s my opini<strong>on</strong> that you’re making a<br />

lot of fuss over nothing.”

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