human
You see, she explained,
gpt
Burns! You don't mean to say you had him out to see a case last night--after--
human
Was that so dreadful of me--as a hostess? I admit that a doctor ought to be allowed to rest when he is away from home, but I knew that he was just back from a long voyage and was feeling fit as a fiddle, as he himself said. And there is really no very competent man in the town where my friend is ill; it was such a wonderful chance for her to have great skill at her service. And such skill! Oh, how he went to work for her! It made one feel at once that something was being done, where before people had merely tried to do things.
gpt
Would you mind telling me whether you have had any sleep at all?
human
Do I look so haggard and wan? she queried with a quick glance.
gpt
Yes, I had a good two hours. And I'm so happy now to know that Estelle is sleeping quietly that it's much better than to have slept myself.
human
Do you do this sort of thing often?
gpt
Not just such spectacular night work, but I do try to see that a little is done to look after a few people who have had a terribly hard time of it. But this is all--or mostly--since I came back from my year away. I learned just a few things during that year, you know.
human
Your cousin--do you mind?--gave me just a bit of an idea why you went,
gpt
Oh, Leila Stockton. Her lips took on an amused curl.
human
Of course Leila would. She--chatters. But she's a dear girl; it's just that she can't easily get a new point of view.