I FELT rather poor lately, so this morning at nine I WENT to the doctor. I FOUND him alone in his waiting-room, where he WAS STANDING by the window.
“Where ARE your patients? HAVE you CURED them all?” I ASKED.
“The reason why people AREN'T CROWDING into this room now is that on Wednesday I DON'T BEGIN consultations here until half past ten. Such HAS BEEN my habit for the last twenty-five years.’
I’m sorry I CAME too early I SAID, 'I WILL GO and COME BACK later“.
“Oh, no. I PREFER early patients to late ones. In the course of my practice I HAVE NOTICED the late-comers VISIT the doctor because they NEED some sympathy. They are like a dog that once CAME here with a sore paw; I BANDAGED it for him and while I WAS DOING this he WAS LOOKING at me with great lonely eyes. He CAME BACK the next day and every day until his paw BECAME well. I FOUND OUT that his master HAS GONE AWAY. The dog is old now but he IS still COMING.
