human
IT is too late, I am afraid, said Dr. Hillhouse as the two physicians rode away,
gpt
The case ought to have been seen last night. I noticed the call when I came home from Mr. Birtwell's, but the storm was frightful, and I did not feel like going out again. In fact, if the truth must be told, I hardly gave the matter a thought. I saw the call, but its importance did not occur to me. Late hours, suppers and wine do not always leave the head as clear as it should be.
human
I do not like the looks of things, returned Dr. Angier.
gpt
All the symptoms are bad.
human
Yes, very bad. I saw Mrs. Ridley yesterday morning, and found her doing well. No sign of fever or any functional disturbance. She must have had some shock or exposure to cold.
gpt
Her husband was out all night. I learned that much from the nurse, replied Dr. Angier.
human
When the storm became violent, which was soon after ten o'clock, she grew restless and disturbed, starting up and listening as the snow dashed on the windowpanes and the wind roared angrily. 'I could not keep her down,' said the nurse. 'She would spring up in bed, throw off the clothes and sit listening, with a look of anxiety and dread on her face. The wind came in through every chink and crevice, chilling the room in spite of all I could do to keep it warm. I soon saw, from the color that began coming into her face and from the brightness in her eyes, that fever had set in. I was alarmed, and sent for the doctor.'
gpt
And did this go on all night?
human
Yes. She never closed her eyes except in intervals of feverish stupor, from which she would start up and cry out for her husband, who was, she imagined, in some dreadful peril.
gpt
Bad! bad! muttered Dr. Hillhouse.
human
There'll be a death, I fear, laid at Mr. Birtwell's door.
gpt
I don't understand you,
human
Mr. Birtwell may not have known anything about him,
gpt
All very true. But there is one thing he did know.
human
What?
gpt
That he could not invite a company of three hundred men and women to his house, though he selected them from the most refined and intelligent circles in our city, and give them intoxicating drinks as freely as he did last night, without serious harm. In such accompany there will be some, like Mr. Ridley, to whom the cup of wine offered in hospitality will be a cup of cursing. Good resolutions will be snapped like thread in a candle-flame, and men who came sober will go away, as from any other drinking-saloon, drunk, as he went out last night.
human
Drinking-saloon! You surprise me, doctor.
gpt
I feel bitter this morning; and when the bitterness prevails, I am apt to call things by strong names. Yes, I say drinking-saloon, Doctor Angier. What matters it in the dispensation whether you give away or sell the liquor, whether it be done over a bar or set out free to every guest in a merchant's elegant banqueting-room? The one is as much a liquor-saloon as the other. Men go away from one, as from the other, with heads confused and steps unsteady and good resolutions wrecked by indulgence. Knowing that such things must follow; that from every fashionable entertainment some men, and women too, go away weaker and in more danger than when they came; that boys and young men are tempted to drink and the feet of some set in the ways of ruin; that health is injured and latent diseases quickened into force; that evil rather than good flows from them,--knowing all this, I say, can any man who so turns his house, for a single evening, into a drinking-saloon--I harp on the words, you see, for I am feeling bitter--escape responsibility? No man goes blindly in this way.
human
Taking your view of the case, replied Dr. Angier,
gpt
Whose?
human
Nothing has been heard of Archie Voss since he left Mr. Birtwell's last night, and his poor mother is lying insensible, broken down by her fears.
gpt
Oh, what of her? I was called for in the night, and you went in my place.
human
I found Mrs. Voss in a state of coma, from which she had only partially recovered when I left at daylight. Mr. Voss is in great anxiety about his son, who has never stayed away all night before, except with the knowledge of his parents.
gpt
Oh, that will all come right, said Dr. Hillhouse.
human
The young man went home, probably, with some friend. Had too much to drink, it may be, and wanted to sleep it off before coming into his mother's pressence.
gpt
There is no doubt about his having drank too much, returned Dr. Angier.
human
I saw him going along the hall toward the street door in rather a bad way. He had his overcoat on and his hat in his hand.
gpt
Was any one with him?
human
I believe not. I think he went out alone.
gpt
Into that dreadful storm?
human
Yes.
gpt
And has not been heard of since?
human
No.
gpt
Have the police been informed about it?
human
Yes. The police have had the matter in hand for several hours, but at the time I left not the smallest clue had been found.
gpt
Rather a bad look, said Dr. Hillhouse.
human
What does Mr. Voss say about it?
gpt
His mind seems to dwell on two theories--one that Archie, who had a valuable diamond pin and a gold watch, may have wandered into some evil neighborhood, bewildered by the storm, and there been set upon and robbed--murdered perhaps. The other is that he has fallen in some out-of-the-way place, overcome by the cold, and lies buried in the snow. The fact that no police-officer reports having seen him or any one answering to his description during the night awakens the gravest fears.
human
Still, replied Dr. Hillhouse,
gpt
The boy had been drinking too much?
human
Yes; and I judge from, his manner, when I saw him on his way to the street, that he was conscious of his condition and ashamed of it. He went quietly along, evidently trying not to excite observation, but his steps were unsteady and his sight not true, for in trying to thread his way along the hall he ran against one and another, and drew the attention he was seeking to avoid.
gpt
Poor fellow! said Dr. Hillhouse, with genuine pity.
human
He was always a nice boy. If anything has happened to him, I wouldn't give a dime for the life of his mother.
gpt
Nor I. And even as it is, the shock already received may prove greater than her exhausted system can bear. I think you had better see her, doctor, as early as possible.
human
There were no especially bad symptoms when you left, beyond the state of partial coma?
gpt
No. Her respiration had become easy, and she presented the appearance of one in a quiet sleep.
human
Nature is doing all for her that can be done, returned Dr. Hillhouse.
gpt
I will see her as early as practicable. It's unfortunate that we have these two cases on our hands just at this time, and most unfortunate of all that I should have been compelled to go out so early this morning. That doesn't look right.
human
It will pass off after you have taken breakfast.
gpt
I hope so. Confound these parties! I should not have gone last night, and if I'd given the matter due consideration would have remained at home.
human
Why so?
gpt
You know what that means as well as I do; and Dr. Hillhouse held up his tremulous hand again.
human
We can't take wine freely late at night and have our nerves in good order next morning. A life may depend on a steady hand to-day.
gpt
It will all pass off at breakfast-time. Your good cup of coffee will make everything all right.
human
Perhaps yea, perhaps nay, was answered.
gpt
I forgot myself last night, and accepted too many wine compliments. It was first this one and then that one, until, strong as my head is, I got more into it than should have gone there. We are apt to forget ourselves on these occasions. If I had only taken a glass or two, it would have made little difference. But my system was stimulated beyond its wont, and, I fear, will not be in the right tone to-day.
human
You will have to bring it up, then, doctor, said the assistant.
gpt
To touch that work with an unsteady hand might be death.
human
A glass or two of wine will do it; but when I operate, I always prefer to have my head clear. Stimulated nerves are not to be depended upon, and the brain that has wine in it is never a sure guide. A surgeon must see at the point of his instrument; and if there be a mote or any obscurity in his mental vision, his hand, instead of working a cure, may bring disaster.
gpt
You operate at twelve?
human
Yes.
gpt
You will be all right enough by that time; but it will not do to visit many patients. I am sorry about this case of child-bed fever; but I will see it again immediately after breakfast, and report.