"And, you see, I must take care of myself now for the sake of my
husband," she said, after she had explained matters.

"I understand," said the doctor.

"If anything happened to me--" began the patient.

"Nothing shall happen," said the other. "Stay in bed to-morrow morning,
and I'll come round and overhaul you."

Mrs. Gribble hesitated. "You might examine me and think I was all
right," she objected; "and at the same time you wouldn't know how I
feel."

"I know just how you feel," was the reply. "Good-bye."

He came round the following morning and, following the dejected Mr.
Gribble upstairs, made a long and thorough investigation of his patient.

"Say 'ninety-nine,'" he said, adjusting his stethoscope.

Mrs. Gribble ticked off "ninety-nines" until her husband's ears ached
with them. The doctor finished at last, and, fastening his bag, stood
with his beard in his hand, pondering. He looked from the little,
whitefaced woman on the bed to the bulky figure of Mr. Gribble.

"You had better lie up for a week," he said, decidedly. "The rest will
do you good."

"Nothing serious, I s'pose?" said Mr. Gribble, as he led the way