Page:Strange Interlude (1928).djvu/141

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I’ll go up and tell Nina you’re here, Ned.

[He goes, casting a resentful glance at ]

[Awkwardly, as sits down in the chair at center, goes over and stands by the table]

I was on the point of leaving when you rang. Then I decided to stop and renew our acquaintance.

[He stoops and picks up one sheet of paper, and puts it back carefully on the table]

[Watching him—thinking]

Neat suspiciously neat  he’s an old maid who seduces himself in his novels  so I suspect  I’d like a chance to study him more closely.

[Thinking resentfully]

What a boor! he might say something!

[Forcing a smile]

And I wanted to ask a favor of you, a word of advice as to the best specialist, the very best, it would be possible to consult—

[Sharply]

On what?

[Almost naïvely]

My mother has a pain in her stomach.