The Doctor's Fee, Part V [pp. 35-47]

[April,
THE DOCTOR'S FEE.
"Your priest here is in a bad state, I am sorry to find, Mr.
Ashby," said Dr. Clayton, addressing the elder of the two
gentlemen, who were Catholics and evidently father and son.
"We are trying to get him on his feet to keep him in motion."
The younger Ashby started forward to assist, and a perambulation of the floor began again.
They had not made many turns when Mrs. Brown entered
with the coffee and brandy. As he took them from her hands
and set them on the table Dr. Clayton requested her to put a
few lumps of ice in her water-bucket and bring it to him, which
she did at once; and dipping a bowlful of the ice-cold fluid, the
physician walked in front of the procession as the father was conducted up and down, across and around the tolerably large
apartment, throwing the water in his face every few steps.
It was a distressing spectacle to the only two unemployed
persons present-the elder Mr. Ashby and the housekeeper.
Father Brian's eyes were closed, his steps mechanical and stumbling, his head nodding from side to side except when the
periodical dash of water caused him to start back and shiver an
instant.
"I'm afraid they'll give him his death of cold!" thought Mrs.
Brown, as with troubled gaze she watched the water streaming
down the front of his soutane and deluging his slippered feet.
"He looks pitiful, treated so!"
The success of the treatment, however, gradually became
apparent in the increased sensitiveness he exhibited to the shock
of the ice-water, and presently Dr. Clayton said: "Let him sit
down now. He must take this coffee, if possible."
"Yes, and I must look to the mustard-plasters," said Dr.
Ferrison, proceeding to remove them as soon as they had placed
the father in his seat.
"Put your smoothing-irons to the fire, Mrs. Brown," said
Dr. Clayton. "I hope we shall not have to use them, but we
must have them on hand in case of need."
Mrs. Brown's usually ruddy face was already pale, but it lost
an additional shade of color at the intimation thus conveyed.
She went, though, in all haste to obey the doctor's orders, and
when she came back, as quickly as possible, found them trying in
vain to rouse the priest sufficiently to get him to take the coffee.
" Tell him there's a sick-call," she suggested. "That'll fetch
him, if anything can. Let me speak to him!" And as those
surrounding him moved back at her approach she leant down
with her lips almost to his ear and cried loudly:
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