Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 132: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MARRIAGE AND DEATH. 123 by day before his eyes, and even his love, which was never so strong as now, could not save her. He knew the doctor, although he tried to encourage him in his cold, professional way, really was at his wits’ end, and merely suggested this trip in order to rid himself of the responsibility which the charge of Gertrude involved. In point of fact, the doctor and his brother physicians, when consulted, considered Mrs. Eldridge’s chances about even. She might recover, or she might not; they had seen cases similar to hers, where the patient had been restored to health, and they had seen others where she had succumbed. Her nervous system seemed completely shattered, and she appeared to be abso- lutely indifferent as to whether her strength returned to her or not. That was the perplexing part of it, Arthur was the only one who could coax her to take either medicine or food, and even from him she would turn. away wearily, at times. Then again she would follow him all over the room with her eyes, restless if he left her for five minutes. She could not sleep night or day in euie of the narcotics which were given her. “It would be better to have a woman—the right kind, you understand—with your wife when you go away. One who is thoroughly feminine, sympathetic, etc. You know what I mean. You see, women comprehend each other’s natures better than we ever do, no matter how devoted we may be to them,’’ the doctor had advised. ‘‘Take one along by all means. You can get rid of her when Mrs. Eldridge is all right again.”’ ‘You don’t object to our taking her along, then, to look after you?’’ continued Arthur to his wite. ‘Not at all.”’ ‘You think it a good idea?”’ Gomichookssco