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Through an open window
"Pendleton,Iwanttoseethatchild. Iwanttomakeanexamination. IMUSTmakeanexamination."
"Well—can’tyou?"
"CAN’TI! Pendleton,youknowverywellIhaven’tbeeninsidethatdoorformorethanfifteenyears. Youdon’tknow—butIwilltellyou—thatthemistressofthathousetoldmethattheNEXTtimesheASKEDmetoenterit,Imighttakeitthatshewasbeggingmypardon,andthatallwouldbeasbefore—whichmeantthatshe’dmarryme. Perhapsyouseehersummoningmenow—butIdon’t!"
"Butcouldn’tyougo—withoutasummons?"
Thedoctorfrowned.
"Well,hardly. Ihavesomepride,youknow."
"Butifyou’resoanxious—couldn’tyouswallowyourprideandforgetthequarrel—"
"Forgetthequarrel!"interruptedthedoctor,savagely. "I’mnottalkingofthatkindofpride. SofarasTHATisconcerned,I’dgofromherethereonmyknees—oronmyhead—ifthatwoulddoanygood. It’sPROFESSIONALprideI’mtalkingabout. It’sacaseofsickness,andI’madoctor. Ican’tbuttinandsay,‘Here,takeme!canI?"
"Chilton,whatwasthequarrel?"demandedPendleton.
Thedoctormadeanimpatientgesture,andgottohisfeet.
