R. Austin Freeman

“ Turcival recognised the symptoms. He had seen them before. Applying himself to the Doomsday Book, he coughed drily, and remarked: “You won't be paid till the end of the engagement, so perhaps you'd better settle with me when you come back, unless you're more flush than newly-qualified men are generally.”
“I'm pebbly-beached, as a matter of fact,” said Sinclair, “and it's awfully good of you.”
“Not at all. Matter of business.” Thus Turcival, as dry as a last year's walnut, and desperately afraid of being suspected of doing a kindly act. ”

“ She sat down by him on the little cane sofa, and laid a particularly soft cheek on his shoulder: and Sinclair, who had his ambitions, thought he would be willing to sink them all and “devil” for old Gribble in perpetuam if thereby he could avoid that “good-bye” that loomed eight weeks ahead. He stroked the soft chestnut hair that strayed so prettily from her brow and said cheerily, “We'll do better than that, little partner; we'll have a practice of our own—a small one. I shall soon get a little money accumulated, and then I'll ask Turcival to find me a cheap nucleus. ”

“ She slipped her hand through his arm and drew closer to him. “You are rather mixing your dear old metaphors,” she said. “People don't spread butter in nests. But I mustn't be flippant. I don't feel so. And as to the mere discomforts of poverty, they would be nothing to me if we were together. The only question is as to what is practicable.”
“The wise woman of Hamblefield,” he chuckled. “But you are quite right, dear; a medicus can't live in a two-pair back—though, by the way, I know one who lives in a three-pair front, only he's a mere bachelor.”
“It is early yet,” said Lucy. ”

“ It is a difficult art, but its acquirement is imperative or the day's work and the night's rest will alike be curtailed; and, like the cognate art of wrapping up a medicine bottle, its necessity is not suspected by the student until he emerges from the wards into general practice. Sinclair was as innocent of it as a baby. ”

“ Gribble's anticipations were realised within twenty-four hours. Sinclair was half-way through his first breakfast at Hamblefield, and had just inflicted a depressed fracture on his second egg, when the inevitable message arrived. “Miss Morris, of 'The Birches,' wished to see Dr. Sinclair. She was in great pain, and would he kindly go as soon as possible?”
Sinclair gobbled the remainder of his breakfast, gulped down a cup of tea, and started. “Pain” is a talismanic word. No doctor can afford to be sceptical of pain until he has seen the patient. ”

“ The proper study of mankind is man, and I can tell you that we carry that study to a finish here in Hamblefield. Why, I even know what you had for breakfast. You had eggs.”
Sinclair glanced hastily at the front of his waistcoat. “That was just a shot,” said he. “I shouldn't be likely to have parrots. But how did you know about Miss Morris?” ”

“ The coroner raised the lid of the box, peered in, and then turned it upside down, when a small, sparkling object dropped on to the table.
“Bless my soul,” he exclaimed, looking up at Dr. Gallibut, “it's a diamond!”
“Yes,” said the witness, “it is a diamond. I may add, sir, that it is the diamond—the one which is supposed to have been stolen. Mrs. Wingfield identified it in my presence, and I myself tried it in the empty setting and found that it fitted.”
“Astonishing!” exclaimed the coroner. “And are we to understand that the deceased—ah——”
“Swallowed the diamond?” said Dr. Gallibut. ”

“ Or in the evenings, when the moon shamelessly got up in broad daylight, they would saunter through the lanes or by the wood and listen to other couples in the trees above telling the same story in twittering “songs without words.” It is hard to be poor, no doubt, but it is good to be young, with the sunshine of love lighting up the rough places on life's highway. ”

“ What a delightful change from old Gribble! (She didn't say this, of course. She only closed her eyes and breathed a patient sigh.)
Sinclair seated himself, and, after the manner of doctors, inspected the surroundings while the patient skirmished lightly round her symptoms. The constant relation between an organism and its environment makes the study of the latter highly instructive as to the former. And the present environment was very suggestive. It included a pile of novels from Smith's: “The Soul of a Woman,” “A Woman's Passion,” “The Master Woman,” “A Woman's Strength,” and others ”

“ And we all know what they can manage at a pinch.
On the fourth day after the first hearing, Sinclair duly surrendered to his bail and took his place in the dock. There was a profound hush in the court, though every available place was occupied. The magistrates looked preternaturally solemn, and the face of the jolly chief constable wore an expression of gloom. The case was reopened by the solicitor for the prosecution in tones of portentous gravity.
“Since the prisoner was first charged four days ago,” he began, “a very terrible thing has happened. The prosecutrix, your worship, is dead. ”

“ A man of fifty who practises the art of medicine, keeping his weather eyelid elevated and his weather eyeball peeled—if you will pardon the colloquialism—takes a deal of surprising. But poor Sinclair was a green hand, and he was absolutely thunderstruck. ”

“ A doctor's wife must learn not to be inquisitive about her husband's patients.” Sinclair stated this maxim with becoming gravity until Lucy made a quaint little grimace at him, which made him laugh and spoilt the effect of the platitude. ”

“ Gallibut, of Lynn, had been asked to take over the case. At the concluding clause Sinclair smiled grimly, and wished Dr. Gallibut joy of his attendance. But, all the same, it was no joke. Gribble would be furious. Miss Morris might be a “damn nuisance,” as Gribble had said, but her yearly account must be something considerable. And the G.P. doesn't practise for fun.
Lucy's reception of the ill-tidings mortified him deeply. She had heard about it, of course; everybody had. ”

“ Sinclair made the acquaintance of the “fly” on the very day of his arrival. Gribble introduced her when handing over the practice. “Then there's a Miss Daisy Morris, cousin of your friend Miss Lucy.” Sinclair had prudently mentioned his engagement by way of anticipating comment in the village. “You're sure to hear from her. Most unsatisfactory patient. Typical case of hysteria. Wants some thing to do. Damn nuisance. No sooner have you relieved one set of symptoms than she starts another. ”

“ The chairman was a retired London solicitor, a very knowing old gentleman, who, as Sinclair entered the dock, red-faced and furious, glanced at him critically and decided that he didn't look like a petty thief. The charge was stated by a local solicitor who was retained for the prosecution, and the chairman looked critically at him, too.
“This charge,” said the lawyer, “rests on the definite statement of the prosecutrix, Miss Daisy Morris, that she saw the prisoner take the diamond.”
“Is Miss Morris present?” asked the chairman.
“No, your worship. She is very seriously ill.” ”

“ As soon as the verdict was given the three magistrates conferred briefly, and the chairman beckoned to the Chief Constable. The officer approached with his prisoner. “I suppose, your worship,” he said, “Dr. Sinclair may now be released from custody?”
“Certainly,” was the answer. “And if you, doctor, will step into the court-room with me and my colleagues and the coroner, we will formally dismiss the charge and place the circumstances on record.”
A few minutes later Sinclair went forth escorted by Lucy, moist-eyed but radiant, and the faithful Maggs ”

“ On these occasions the nest-building project was reviewed in all its bearings; minute computations were made of the compound interest on very small sums of money. Then, too, practical comparisons were made contrasting the velvety softness of the female countenance with the ruggedness of that of the porcupinous male ”