Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/209

Rh "For God's sake! spare naught! she said. "I have still some money, but I love my daughter better than money."

"Spare!" said he. "If money can help, I will not fail her."

"When thou goest, and while she is resting," said the mother, "I will go home; but I will return as I am needed."

Now it should be known that the old woman on the previous day, when she quitted her daughter, had instructed the physician, who was well aware of what he must say. So the young man carried his wife's water to the physician, and, having saluted him, related how sick and suffering was his wife.

"And I have brought some of her water that thou mayest judge how sick she is, and the more easily cure her," said the young man.

The physician took the vessel of urine, and; turning it about and examining it, said:

"Thy wife is sore afflicted with illness and in peril of death unless succour be forthcoming. Her water showeth it."

"Ah! master, for the love of God, tell me what to do, and I will pay thee well canst thou restore her to health and prevent her from dying!"

"She need not die an thou obeyest my commands," quoth the physician. "But if thou dost not make haste, all the money in the world will not save her from death."

"Tell me, for God's sake, what to do," said the other, "and I will do it."