Page:In defense of Harriet Shelley, and other essays.djvu/365

 AT THE APPETITE CURE

&quot;Doctor, it is not fair to joke over so serious a case as mine. I came here to get an appetite, not to throw away the remnant that s left.&quot;

He said, gravely, &quot;I am not joking; why should I joke?&quot;

&quot;But I can t eat these horrors.&quot;

&quot;Why not?&quot;

He said it with a naivete that was admirable, whether it was real or assumed.

&quot;Why not? Because why, doctor, for months I have seldom been able to endure anything more substantial than omelettes and custards. These un speakable dishes of yours

&quot;Oh, you will come to like them. They are very good. And you must eat them. It is the rule of the place, and is strict. I cannot permit any departure from it.&quot;

I said, smiling: &quot;Well, then, doctor, you will have to permit the departure of the patient. I am going.&quot;

He looked hurt, and said in a way which changed the aspect of things:

&quot;I am sure you would not do me that injustice. I accepted you in good faith you will not shame that confidence. This appetite cure is my whole living. If you should go forth from it with the sort of appetite which you now have, it could become known, and you can see, yourself, that people would say my cure failed in your case and hence can fail in other cases. You will not go; you will not do me this hurt.&quot;

I apologized and said I would stay.

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