“’sallI’’sworthit?”
“It’sameansoflivelihood,”Ianswered.
“Yes, ’sprettygood.”
“Idon’texactlyknowwhyyou’vecometome.”
“Well, IwantedtoknowwhetheryouthoughttherewouldbeanychanceforanEnglishdoctorinSpain?”
“WhySpain?”
“Idon’tknow, Ijusthaveafancyforit.”
“It’snotlikeCarmen, youknow.”
“Butthere’ssunshinethere, andthere’sgoodwine, andthere’scolour, andthere’? Isitmadnesstogiveupagoodsafejobforanuncertainty?”
“Whatdoesyourwifethinkaboutit?”
“She’swilling.”
“It’sagreatrisk.”
“, Iwill: ifyousaystaywhereyouare, I’llstay.”
.
“Yourwholefutureisconcerned: : ifyoudon’twantmoneybutarecontenttoearnjustenoughtokeepbodyandsoultogether, .”
Heleftme, Ithoughtabouthimforadayortwo, .
Manyyearslater, fifteenatleast, .
“Haveyoucometoseeme?”hesaid.“I’mtheEnglishdoctor.”
, withapatio, andhisconsultingroomwhichledoutofitwaslitteredwithpapers, books, medicalappliances, .
“There’snofee.”
“Whyonearthnot?”
“Don’tyourememberme? Why, I’.I’mStephens.”
, herepeatedtomewhatwehadsaid, andgradually, outofthenight, adimrecollectionoftheincidentcamebacktome.
“IwaswonderingifI’deverseeyouagain,”hesaid, “IwaswonderingifeverI’dhaveachanceofthankingyouforallyou’vedoneforme.”
“It’sbeenasuccessthen?”
, buthiseyestwinkledgailyandhisfleshy, , terriblyshabbytheywere, , thoughentirelysympathetic, , butyoucouldnothaveimaginedamoredelightfulcreaturetodrinkaglassofwinewith.
“Surelyyouweremarried?”Isaid.
“’tlikeSpain, shewentbacktoCamberwell, shewasmoreathomethere.”
“Oh, I’msorryforthat.”
.
“Lifeisfullofcompensations,”hemurmured.
