? (_Rubs his side._)

_Cad._ No!--lower!

_Jel._ Here? (_Rubbing._)

_Cad._ No!--higher!--Oh, my chest!--my stomach! Oh dear!--oh dear!

_Jel._ Are you better now, my dear sir?

_Cad._ Oh dear! oh! I do believe that I shall die! I've been a very
wicked man, I'm afraid.

_Jel._ Don't say so, Mr Cadaverous. Every one but your nephews and
nieces say that you are the best man in the world.

_Cad._ Do they? I was afraid that I had not been quite so good as they
think I am.

_Jel._ I'd like to hear any one say to the contrary. I'd tear their eyes
out,--that I would.

_Cad._ You are a good woman, Mrs Jellybags; and I shall not forget you
in my will.

_Jel._ Don't mention wills, my dear sir. You make me so miserable.
(_Puts her handkerchief to her eyes._)

_Cad._ Don't cry, Mrs Jellybags. I wo'n't talk any more about it.
(_Sinks back exhausted._)

_Jel._ (_wiping her eyes._) Here comes Doctor Gumarabic.

_Enter Gumarabic._

_Gum._ Good morning, Mistress Jellybags. Well, how's our
patient?--better?--heh? [_Mrs Jellybags shakes her head._

_Gum._ No: well, that's odd. (_Goes up to Mr Cadaverous._) Not better,
my dear sir?--don't you feel stronger?

_Cad._ (_faintly_). Oh, no!

_Gum._ Not stronger! Let us feel the pulse. [_Mrs Jellybags hands a
chair, and Gumarabic sits down, pulls out his watch, and counts._]
Intermittent--135--well, now--that's very odd! Mrs Jellybags, have you
adhered punctually to my prescriptions?

_Jel._ Oh yes, sir, exactly.

_Gum._ He has eaten nothing?

_Cad._ Nothing at all.

_Gum._ And don't feel stronger? Odd--very odd! Pray, has he had anything
in the way of drink? Come, Mrs Jellybags, no disguise,--tell the
truth;--no soup--warm jelly--heh?

_Jel._ No, sir; upon my word, he has had nothing.

_Gum._ Humph!--and yet feels no stronger? Well, that's odd!--Has he
taken the pill every half-hour?

_Jel._ Yes, sir, regularly.

_Gum._ And feels no better! Are you sure that he has had his draught
with his pill?

_Jel._ Every time, sir.

_Gum._ And feels no better! Well, that's odd!--very odd, indeed! (_Rises
and comes forward with Mrs Jellybags._) We must throw in some more
draughts, Mrs Jellybags; there is no time to be lost.

_Jel._ I'm afraid he's much worse, sir.

_Gum._ I am not at all afraid of it, Mrs Jellybags,--I am sure of
it;--it's very odd,--but the fact is, that all the physic in the world
won't save him; but still he must take it,--because--physic was made