human
Excommunication?
gpt
Yes, excommunication, she replied;
human
That is a hard saying,
gpt
I want you to save a man's life, she said, with her eyes looking straight into his.
human
Will you do it?
gpt
I want you to save a man's happiness, he answered.
human
Will you do it?
gpt
That man yonder will die unless your skill saves him,
human
This man here will go away unhappy and alone, unless your heart befriends him, he replied, coming closer to her.
gpt
At sunrise to-morrow he goes.
human
Oh, please, please, she pleaded, with a quick, protesting gesture.
gpt
Sunrise is far off, but the man's fate is near, and you must save him. You only can do so, for Doctor Hadley is away, and Doctor Brydon is sick, and in any case Doctor Brydon dare not attempt the operation alone. It is too critical and difficult, he says.
human
So I have heard, he answered, with a new note in his voice, his professional instinct roused in spite of himself.
gpt
Who is this man? What interests you in him?
human
To how many unknown people have you given your skill for nothing--your skill and all your experience to utter strangers, no matter how low or poor! Is it not so? Well, I cannot give to strangers what you have given to so many, but I can help in my own way.
gpt
You want me to see the man at once?
human
If you will.
gpt
What is his name? I know of his accident and the circumstances.
human
He is called Draper--a trapper and a woodsman.
gpt
But I was going away to-morrow at sunrise. All my arrangements are made,
human
But you will not see a man die, if you can save him?