Трое в лодке не считая собаки

           ThenIwonderedhowlongIhadtolive. Itriedtoexaminemyself. Ifeltmypulse. Icouldnotatfirstfeelanypulseatall. Then,allofasudden,itseemedtostartoff. Ipulledoutmywatchandtimedit. Imadeitahundredandforty-seventotheminute. Itriedtofeelmyheart. Icouldnotfeelmyheart. Ithadstoppedbeating. Ihavesincebeeninducedtocometotheopinionthatitmusthavebeenthereallthetime,andmusthavebeenbeating,butIcannotaccountforit. Ipattedmyselfallovermyfront,fromwhatIcallmywaistuptomyhead,andIwentabitroundeachside,andalittlewayuptheback. ButIcouldnotfeelorhearanything. Itriedtolookatmytongue. Istuckitoutasfaraseveritwouldgo,andIshutoneeye,andtriedtoexamineitwiththeother. Icouldonlyseethetip,andtheonlythingthatIcouldgainfromthatwastofeelmorecertainthanbeforethatIhadscarletfever. 

           Ihadwalkedintothatreading-roomahappy,healthyman. Icrawledoutadecrepitwreck. 

           Iwenttomymedicalman. Heisanoldchumofmine,andfeelsmypulse,andlooksatmytongue,andtalksabouttheweather,allfornothing,whenIfancyI’mill; soIthoughtIwoulddohimagoodturnbygoingtohimnow. "Whatadoctorwants,"Isaid,"ispractice. Heshallhaveme. Hewillgetmorepracticeoutofmethanoutofseventeenhundredofyourordinary,commonplacepatients,withonlyoneortwodiseaseseach. "SoIwentstraightupandsawhim,andhesaid: 

           "Well,what’sthematterwithyou?" 

           Isaid: 

           "Iwillnottakeupyourtime,dearboy,withtellingyouwhatisthematterwithme. Lifeisbrief,andyoumightpassawaybeforeIhadfinished.