Chapter 116

DuringhislastyearatSt.Luke’sPhiliphadtoworkhard.Hewascontentedwithlife.Hefounditverycomfortabletobeheart-freeandtohaveenoughmoneyforhisneeds.Hehadheardpeoplespeakcontemptuouslyofmoney:hewonderediftheyhadevertriedtodowithoutit.Heknewthatthelackmadeamanpetty,mean,grasping;itdistortedhischaracterandcausedhimtoviewtheworldfromavulgarangle;whenyouhadtoconsidereverypenny,moneybecameofgrotesqueimportance:youneededacompetencytorateitatitspropervalue.Helivedasolitarylife,seeingnooneexcepttheAthelnys,buthewasnotlonely;hebusiedhimselfwithplansforthefuture,andsometimeshethoughtofthepast.Hisrecollectiondweltnowandthenonoldfriends,buthemadenoefforttoseethem.HewouldhavelikedtoknowwhatwasbecomeofNorahNesbit;shewasNorahsomethingelsenow,buthecouldnotrememberthenameofthemanshewasgoingtomarry;hewasgladtohaveknownher:shewasagoodandabravesoul.OneeveningabouthalfpastelevenhesawLawson,walkingalongPiccadilly;hewasineveningclothesandmightbesupposedtobecomingbackfromatheatre.Philipgavewaytoasuddenimpulseandquicklyturneddownasidestreet.Hehadnotseenhimfortwoyearsandfeltthathecouldnotnowtakeupagaintheinterruptedfriendship.HeandLawsonhadnothingmoretosaytooneanother.Philipwasnolongerinterestedinart;itseemedtohimthathewasabletoenjoybeautywithgreaterforcethanwhenhewasaboy;butartappearedtohimunimportant.Hewasoccupiedwiththeformingofapatternoutofthemanifoldchaosoflife,andthematerialswithwhichheworkedseemedtomakepreoccupationwithpigmentsandwordsverytrivial.Lawsonhadservedhisturn.Philip’sfriendshipwithhimhadbeenamotiveinthedesignhewaselaborating:itwasmerelysentimentaltoignorethefactthatthepainterwasofnofurtherinteresttohim.

SometimesPhilipthoughtofMildred.Heavoideddeliberatelythestreetsinwhichtherewasachanceofseeingher;butoccasionallysomefeeling,perhapscuriosity,perhapssomethingdeeperwhichhewouldnotacknowledge,madehimwanderaboutPiccadillyandRegentStreetduringthehourswhenshemightbeexpectedtobethere.Hedidnotknowthenwhetherhewishedtoseeherordreadedit.Oncehesawabackwhichremindedhimofhers,andforamomenthethoughtitwasshe;itgavehimacurioussensation:itwasastrangesharppaininhisheart,therewasfearinitandasickeningdismay;andwhenhehurriedonandfoundthathewasmistakenhedidnotknowwhetheritwasreliefthatheexperiencedordisappointment.

AtthebeginningofAugustPhilippassedhissurgery,hislastexamination,andreceivedhisdiploma.ItwassevenyearssincehehadenteredSt.Luke’sHospital.Hewasnearlythirty.HewalkeddownthestairsoftheRoyalCollegeofSurgeonswiththerollinhishandwhichqualifiedhimtopractice,andhisheartbeatwithsatisfaction.

“NowI’mreallygoingtobeginlife,”hethought.

Nextdayhewenttothesecretary’sofficetoputhisnamedownforoneofthehospitalappointments.Thesecretarywasapleasantlittlemanwithablackbeard,whomPhiliphadalwaysfoundveryaffable.Hecongratulatedhimonhissuccess,andthensaid:

“Isupposeyouwouldn’tliketodoalocumforamonthontheSouthcoast?Threeguineasaweekwithboardandlodging.”

“Iwouldn’tmind,”saidPhilip.

“It’satFarnley,inDorsetshire.DoctorSouth.You’dhavetogodownatonce;hisassistanthasdevelopedmumps.Ibelieveit’saverypleasantplace.”

Therewassomethinginthesecretary’smannerthatpuzzledPhilip.Itwasalittledoubtful.

“What’sthecrabinit?”heasked.

Thesecretaryhesitatedamomentandlaughedinaconciliatingfashion.

“Well,thefactis,Iunderstandhe’sratheracrusty,funnyoldfellow.Theagencieswon’tsendhimanyoneanymore.Hespeakshismindveryopenly,andmendon’tlikeit.”

“Butd’youthinkhe’llbesatisfiedwithamanwho’sonlyjustqualified?AfterallIhavenoexperience.”

“Heoughttobegladtogetyou,”saidthesecretarydiplomatically.

Philipthoughtforamoment.Hehadnothingtodoforthenextfewweeks,andhewasgladofthechancetoearnabitofmoney.HecouldputitasidefortheholidayinSpainwhichhehadpromisedhimselfwhenhehadfinishedhisappointmentatSt.Luke’sor,iftheywouldnotgivehimanythingthere,atsomeotherhospital.

“Allright.I’llgo.”

“Theonlythingis,youmustgothisafternoon.Willthatsuityou?Ifso,I’llsendawireatonce.”

Philipwouldhavelikedafewdaystohimself;buthehadseentheAthelnysthenightbefore(hehadgoneatoncetotakethemhisgoodnews)andtherewasreallynoreasonwhyheshouldnotstartimmediately.Hehadlittleluggagetopack.SoonafterseventhateveninghegotoutofthestationatFarnleyandtookacabtoDoctorSouth’s.Itwasabroadlowstuccohouse,withaVirginiacreepergrowingoverit.Hewasshownintotheconsulting-room.Anoldmanwaswritingatadesk.HelookedupasthemaidusheredPhilipin.Hedidnotgetup,andhedidnotspeak;hemerelystaredatPhilip.Philipwastakenaback.

“Ithinkyou’reexpectingme,”hesaid.“ThesecretaryofSt.Luke’swiredtoyouthismorning.”

“Ikeptdinnerbackforhalfanhour.D’youwanttowash?”

“Ido,”saidPhilip.

DoctorSouthamusedhimbyhisoddmanner.Hegotupnow,andPhilipsawthathewasamanofmiddleheight,thin,withwhitehaircutveryshortandalongmouthclosedsotightlythatheseemedtohavenolipsatall;hewasclean-shavenbutforsmallwhitewhiskers,andtheyincreasedthesquarenessoffacewhichhisfirmjawgavehim.Heworeabrowntweedsuitandawhitestock.Hisclotheshunglooselyabouthimasthoughtheyhadbeenmadeforamuchlargerman.Helookedlikearespectablefarmerofthemiddleofthenineteenthcentury.Heopenedthedoor.

“Thereisthedining-room,”hesaid,pointingtothedooropposite.“Yourbed-roomisthefirstdooryoucometowhenyougetonthelanding.Comedownstairswhenyou’reready.”

DuringdinnerPhilipknewthatDoctorSouthwasexamininghim,buthespokelittle,andPhilipfeltthathedidnotwanttohearhisassistanttalk.

“Whenwereyouqualified?”heaskedsuddenly.

“Yesterday.”

“Wereyouatauniversity?”

“No.”

“Lastyearwhenmyassistanttookaholidaytheysentmea‘Varsityman.Itold‘emnottodoitagain.Toodamnedgentlemanlyforme.”

Therewasanotherpause.Thedinnerwasverysimpleandverygood.Philippreservedasedateexterior,butinhishearthewasbubblingoverwithexcitement.Hewasimmenselyelatedatbeingengagedasalocum;itmadehimfeelextremelygrownup;hehadaninsanedesiretolaughatnothinginparticular;andthemorehethoughtofhisprofessionaldignitythemorehewasinclinedtochuckle.

ButDoctorSouthbrokesuddenlyintohisthoughts.“Howoldareyou?”

“Gettingonforthirty.”

“Howisityou’reonlyjustqualified?”

“Ididn’tgoinforthemedicaltillIwasnearlytwenty-three,andIhadtogiveitupfortwoyearsinthemiddle.”

“Why?”

“Poverty.”

DoctorSouthgavehimanoddlookandrelapsedintosilence.Attheendofdinnerhegotupfromthetable.

“D’youknowwhatsortofapracticethisis?”

“No,”answeredPhilip.

“Mostlyfishermenandtheirfamilies.IhavetheUnionandtheSeamen’sHospital.Iusedtobealonehere,butsincetheytriedtomakethisintoafashionablesea-sideresortamanhassetuponthecliff,andthewell-to-dopeoplegotohim.Ionlyhavethosewhocan’taffordtopayforadoctoratall.”

Philipsawthattherivalrywasasorepointwiththeoldman.

“YouknowthatIhavenoexperience,”saidPhilip.

“Younoneofyouknowanything.”

HewalkedoutoftheroomwithoutanotherwordandleftPhilipbyhimself.WhenthemaidcameintoclearawayshetoldPhilipthatDoctorSouthsawpatientsfromsixtillseven.Workforthatnightwasover.Philipfetchedabookfromhisroom,lithispipe,andsettledhimselfdowntoread.Itwasagreatcomfort,sincehehadreadnothingbutmedicalbooksforthelastfewmonths.Atteno’clockDoctorSouthcameinandlookedathim.Philiphatednottohavehisfeetup,andhehaddraggedupachairforthem.

“Youseemabletomakeyourselfprettycomfortable,”saidDoctorSouth,withagrimnesswhichwouldhavedisturbedPhilipifhehadnotbeen

insuchhighspirits.

Philip’seyestwinkledasheanswered.

“Haveyouanyobjection?”

DoctorSouthgavehimalook,butdidnotreplydirectly.

“What’sthatyou’rereading?”

“PeregrinePickle.Smollett.”

“IhappentoknowthatSmollettwrotePeregrinePickle.”

“Ibegyourpardon.Medicalmenaren’tmuchinterestedinliterature,arethey?”

Philiphadputthebookdownonthetable,andDoctorSouthtookitup.ItwasavolumeofaneditionwhichhadbelongedtotheVicarofBlackstable.Itwasathinbookboundinfadedmorocco,withacopperplateengravingasafrontispiece;thepagesweremustywithageandstainedwithmould.Philip,withoutmeaningto,startedforwardalittleasDoctorSouthtookthevolumeinhishands,andaslightsmilecameintohiseyes.Verylittleescapedtheolddoctor.

“DoIamuseyou?”heaskedicily.

“Iseeyou’refondofbooks.Youcanalwaystellbythewaypeoplehandlethem.”

DoctorSouthputdownthenovelimmediately.

“Breakfastateight-thirty,”hesaidandlefttheroom.

“Whatafunnyoldfellow!”thoughtPhilip.

HesoondiscoveredwhyDoctorSouth’sassistantsfounditdifficulttogetonwithhim.Inthefirstplace,hesethisfacefirmlyagainstallthediscoveriesofthelastthirtyyears:hehadnopatiencewiththedrugswhichbecamemodish,werethoughttoworkmarvellouscures,andinafewyearswerediscarded;hehadstockmixtureswhichhehadbroughtfromSt.Luke’swherehehadbeenastudent,andhadusedallhislife;hefoundthemjustasefficaciousasanythingthathadcomeintofashionsince.PhilipwasstartledatDoctorSouth’ssuspicionofasepsis;hehadaccepteditindeferencetouniversalopinion;butheusedtheprecautionswhichPhiliphadknowninsisteduponsoscrupulouslyatthehospitalwiththedisdainfultoleranceofamanplayingatsoldierswithchildren.

“I’veseenantisepticscomealongandsweepeverythingbeforethem,andthenI’veseenasepsistaketheirplace.Bunkum!”

Theyoungmenwhoweresentdowntohimknewonlyhospitalpractice;andtheycamewiththeunconcealedscornfortheGeneralPractitionerwhichtheyhadabsorbedintheairatthehospital;buttheyhadseenonlythecomplicatedcaseswhichappearedinthewards;theyknewhowtotreatanobscurediseaseofthesuprarenalbodies,butwerehelplesswhenconsultedforacoldinthehead.Theirknowledgewastheoreticalandtheirself-assuranceunbounded.DoctorSouthwatchedthemwithtightenedlips;hetookasavagepleasureinshowingthemhowgreatwastheirignoranceandhowunjustifiedtheirconceit.Itwasapoorpractice,offishingfolk,andthedoctormadeuphisownprescriptions.DoctorSouthaskedhisassistanthowheexpectedtomakebothendsmeetifhegaveafishermanwithastomach-acheamixtureconsistingofhalfadozenexpensivedrugs.Hecomplainedtoothattheyoungmedicalmenwereuneducated:theirreadingconsistedofTheSportingTimesandTheBritishMedicalJournal;theycouldneitherwritealegiblehandnorspellcorrectly.FortwoorthreedaysDoctorSouthwatchedPhilipclosely,readytofallonhimwithacidsarcasmifhegavehimtheopportunity;andPhilip,awareofthis,wentabouthisworkwithaquietsenseofamusement.Hewaspleasedwiththechangeofoccupation.Helikedthefeelingofindependenceandofresponsibility.Allsortsofpeoplecametotheconsulting-room.Hewasgratifiedbecauseheseemedabletoinspirehispatientswithconfidence;anditwasentertainingtowatchtheprocessofcurewhichatahospitalnecessarilycouldbewatchedonlyatdistantintervals.Hisroundstookhimintolow-

roofedcottagesinwhichwerefishingtackleandsailsandhereandtheremementoesofdeep-seatravelling,alacquerboxfromJapan,spearsandoarsfromMelanesia,ordaggersfromthebazaarsofStamboul;therewasanairofromanceinthestuffylittlerooms,andthesaltoftheseagavethemabitterfreshness.Philiplikedtotalktothesailor-men,andwhentheyfoundthathewasnotsupercilioustheytoldhimlongyarnsofthedistantjourneysoftheiryouth.

Onceortwicehemadeamistakeindiagnosis:(hehadneverseenacaseofmeaslesbefore,andwhenhewasconfrontedwiththerashtookitforanobscurediseaseoftheskin;)andonceortwicehisideasoftreatmentdifferedfromDoctorSouth’s.ThefirsttimethishappenedDoctorSouthattackedhimwithsavageirony;butPhiliptookitwithgoodhumour;hehadsomegiftforrepartee,andhemadeoneortwoanswerswhichcausedDoctorSouthtostopandlookathimcuriously.Philip’sfacewasgrave,buthiseyesweretwinkling.TheoldgentlemancouldnotavoidtheimpressionthatPhilipwaschaffinghim.Hewasusedtobeingdislikedandfearedbyhisassistants,andthiswasanewexperience.HehadhalfamindtoflyintoapassionandpackPhilipoffbythenexttrain,hehaddonethatbeforewithhisassistants;buthehadanuneasyfeelingthatPhilipthenwouldsimplylaughathimoutright;andsuddenlyhefeltamused.Hismouthformeditselfintoasmileagainsthiswill,andheturnedaway.InalittlewhilehegrewconsciousthatPhilipwasamusinghimselfsystematicallyathisexpense.Hewastakenabackatfirstandthendiverted.

“Damnhisimpudence,”hechuckledtohimself.“Damnhisimpudence.”