The physician, afer an examination, addressed the wife of the sick man in a tone of grave finality:
“I am afraid your husband is beyond help. I can hold out no hope of his recovery.”
This candor was offensive to the patient, who protested with what violence was permitted by a very scanty breath:
“Here, hold on! What are you gittin’ at? I ain’t a-goin’ to snuff out!”
The wife interposed in a soothing voice:
“You leave it to the doctor, dearie—he knows best.”