Чума
Part IV
Asshelatersaid,shepolitelysuggestedcallingadoctor,butthisideawasrejectedwithwhatshefoundunacceptableforce.Shecoulddonothingbutleave.Alittlelaterthepriestrangandaskedforher.Heapologizedforhisirritationandtoldherthatitcouldnotbeacaseofplaguesincehehadnoneofthesymptoms;itwasjustatemporaryfatigue.Theoldladyrepliedinadignifiedmannerthathersuggestiondidnotarisefromanyanxietyofthatsort,thatshewasnotconsideringherownsafetywhichwasinthehandsofGod,butthatshehadmerelybeenthinkingofthefather’shealthforwhichshefeltpartlyresponsible.Butsincehedidnotaddanything,hislandlady,anxious(soshesaid)todoherduty,againsuggestedcallingherdoctor.Thepriestoncemorerefusedwhileaddingsomeexplanationwhichtheoldladyconsideredveryconfused.Theonlythingshethoughtshehadunderstood—whichseemedincomprehensibletoher—wasthatthefatherwasrefusingaconsultationwithadoctorbecauseitwasagainsthisprinciples.Shedecidedthatthefeverwasdisturbinghertenant’smindanddidnothingexceptbringhimsomeherbtea.
Stilldeterminedtofulfilpreciselythedutiesthatthesituationimposedonher,shevisitedthepatientregularlyeverytwohours.Whatstruckhermostforcefullywasthestateofcontinualagitationinwhichthepriestspenttheday.
