Page:The Dial (Volume 73).djvu/37

Rh to her conscience in the matter, she has become somewhat more careful."

The doctor smiled. It was immediately clear to him that, for the purpose of making a stronger impression, Sabine had ascribed to him, as the physician, an expression of her own apprehensions.

Suddenly it occurred to him that it might this time be Sabine herself who was sick, and he perceived from the unexpected quickening of his pulse how dearly he had the welfare of the young lady at heart. But before he could inquire further, the boy said:

"This time it's my father."

Doctor Graesler drew a sigh of relief. "What is the matter with him? Nothing serious, I hope."

"Ah, if one only knew, Doctor. He has changed so, lately. Perhaps it isn’t a case of sickness at all. You see, he's already fifty-two years old.”

The doctor knit his brows involuntarily. He asked somewhat coolly: "Well, what symptoms give you occasion for anxiety?"

"Latterly, Doctor, father has had attacks of vertigo, and yesterday evening, when he wanted to get up from his chair, he nearly fell over and only steadied himself with great difficulty by holding on to the edge of the table. And then, when he takes hold of his glass in order to drink—this we've been noticing for some time—his hands tremble."

"Hm." The doctor looked up from his coffee-cup. "I suppose your father takes hold of his glass quite often, eh? And I presume there isn't always water in the glass either, is there?"

The boy dropped his eyes. "Well, of course, Sabine thought that might have something to do with it. And then, besides, father smokes all day."

"Well, now, my dear young man, these don't necessarily seem to be symptoms of old age. However—your father wishes me to call?" he added courteously.

"Unfortunately that isn't so simple, Doctor. Father mustn't on any account know that you are coming because of him. You see, he never wanted to have anything to do with doctors. And Sabine was wondering whether we couldn't manage to make your visit appear accidental."

"Accidental?"

"Well, for instance, if some time soon you were to pass by The Range again, just as you did the other afternoon, why then Sabine