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Rh

[Frowning]

You mean Doctor Darrell?

[ nods]

Is he a close friend of yours?

[Hesitatingly]

Well, sort of. Roomed in the same dorm with me at college. He was a senior when I was a freshman. Used to help me along in lots of ways. Took pity on me, I was so green. Then about a year ago when I went to the hospital to visit a fellow who’d been in my outfit I ran into him again.

[Then with a grin]

But I wouldn’t say Ned was close to anyone. He’s a dyed-in-the-wool doc. He’s only close to whatever’s the matter with you!

[He chuckles—then hastily]

But don’t get me wrong about him. He’s the best egg ever! You know him, don’t you?

[Stiffly]

Barely. Nina introduced us once.

[Thinking bitterly]

He’s upstairs alone with her I hoped it would be I who

Don’t want him to get the wrong idea of Ned Ned’s my best friend  doing all he can to help me with Nina  he thinks she’ll marry me in the end  God, if she only would! I wouldn’t expect her to