Chapter68

onemorningphilipongettingupfelthisheadswim,andgoingbacktobedsuddenlydiscoveredhewasill.allhislimbsachedandheshiveredwithcold.whenthelandladybroughtinhisbreakfasthecalledtoherthroughtheopendoorthathewasnotwell,andaskedforacupofteaandapieceoftoast.afewminuteslatertherewasaknockathisdoor,andgriffithscamein.theyhadlivedinthesamehouseforoverayear,buthadneverdonemorethannodtooneanotherinthepassage.

“isay,ihearyou’reseedy,”saidgriffiths.“ithoughti’dcomeinandseewhatwasthematterwithyou.”  philip,blushingheknewnotwhy,madelightofthewholething.hewouldbeallrightinanhourortwo.

“well,you’dbetterletmetakeyourtemperature,”saidgriffiths.

“it’squiteunnecessary,”answeredphilipirritably.

“comeon.”

philipputthethermometerinhismouth.griffithssatonthesideofthebedandchattedbrightlyforamoment,thenhetookitoutandlookedatit.

“now,lookhere,oldman,youmuststayinbed,andi’llbringolddeaconintohavealookatyou.”

“nonsense,”saidphilip.“there’snothingthematter.iwishyouwouldn’tbotheraboutme.”

“butitisn’tanybother.you’vegotatemperatureandyoumuststayinbed.youwill,won’tyou?”

therewasapeculiarcharminhismanner,aminglingofgravityandkindliness,whichwasinfinitelyattractive.

“you’vegotawonderfulbed-sidemanner,”philipmurmured,closinghiseyeswithasmile.

griffithsshookouthispillowforhim,deftlysmootheddownthebedclothes,andtuckedhimup.hewentintophilip’ssitting-roomtolookforasiphon,couldnotfindone,andfetcheditfromhisownroom.hedrewdowntheblind.

“now,gotosleepandi’llbringtheoldmanroundassoonashe’sdonethewards.”

itseemedhoursbeforeanyonecametophilip.hisheadfeltasifitwouldsplit,anguishrenthislimbs,andhewasafraidhewasgoingtocry.thentherewasaknockatthedoorandgriffiths,healthy,strong,andcheerful,camein.

“here’sdoctordeacon,”hesaid.

thephysiciansteppedforward,anelderlymanwithablandmanner,whomphilipknewonlybysight.afewquestions,abriefexamination,andthediagnosis.

“whatd’youmakeit?”heaskedgriffiths,smiling.

“influenza.”

“quiteright.”

doctordeaconlookedroundthedingylodging-houseroom.

“wouldn’tyouliketogotothehospital?they’llputyouinaprivateward,andyoucanbebetterlooked

afterthanyoucanhere.”

“i’dratherstaywhereiam,”saidphilip.

hedidnotwanttobedisturbed,andhewasalwaysshyofnewsurroundings.hedidnotfancynursesfussingabouthim,andthedrearycleanlinessofthehospital.

“icanlookafterhim,sir,”saidgriffithsatonce.

“oh,verywell.”

hewroteaprescription,gaveinstructions,andleft.

“nowyou’vegottodoexactlyasitellyou,”saidgriffiths.“i’mday-nurseandnight-nurseallinone.”

“it’sverykindofyou,butishan’twantanything,”saidphilip.

griffithsputhishandonphilip’sforehead,alargecool,dryhand,andthetouchseemedtohimgood.

“i’mjustgoingtotakethisroundtothedispensarytohaveitmadeup,andtheni’llcomeback.”

inalittlewhilehebroughtthemedicineandgavephilipadose.thenhewentupstairstofetchhisbooks.

“youwon’tmindmyworkinginyourroomthisafternoon,willyou?”hesaid,whenhecamedown.“i’llleavethedooropensothatyoucangivemeashoutifyouwantanything.”

laterinthedayphilip,awakingfromanuneasydoze,heardvoicesinhissitting-room.afriendhadcomeintoseegriffiths.

“isay,you’dbetternotcomeintonight,”heheardgriffithssaying.

andthenaminuteortwoafterwardssomeoneelseenteredtheroomandexpressedhissurpriseatfindinggriffithsthere.philipheardhimexplain.

“i’mlookingafterasecondyear’smanwho’sgottheserooms.thewretchedblighter’sdownwithinfluenza.nowhisttonight,oldman.”

presentlygriffithswasleftaloneandphilipcalledhim.

“isay,you’renotputtingoffapartytonight,areyou?”heasked.

“notonyouraccount.imustworkatmysurgery.”

“don’tputitoff.ishallbeallright.youneedn’tbotheraboutme.”

“that’sallright.”

philipgrewworse.asthenightcameonhebecameslightlydelirious,buttowardsmorningheawokefromarestlesssleep.hesawgriffithsgetoutofanarm-chair,godownonhisknees,andwithhisfingersputpieceafterpieceofcoalonthefire.hewasinpyjamasandadressing-gown.

“whatareyoudoinghere?”heasked.

“didiwakeyouup?itriedtomakeupthefirewithoutmakingarow.”

“whyaren’tyouinbed?what’sthetime?”

“aboutfive.ithoughti’dbettersitupwithyoutonight.ibroughtanarm-chairinasithoughtifiputamattressdownishouldsleepsosoundlythatishouldn’thearyouifyouwantedanything.”

“iwishyouwouldn’tbesogoodtome,”groanedphilip.“supposeyoucatchit?”

“thenyoushallnurseme,oldman,”saidgriffiths,withalaugh.

inthemorninggriffithsdrewuptheblind.helookedpaleandtiredafterhisnight’swatch,butwasfullofspirits.