The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
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.”