? I'm sure I must have twenty draughts in my
inside, besides two boxes of pills!

JEL. Come, now--it will be down in a minute.

[CADAVEROUS _takes the wine-glass in his hand, and looks at it with
abhorrence_.]

JEL. Come, now.

[CADAVEROUS _swallows the draught, and feels very sick, puts his
handkerchief to his mouth, and, after a time, sinks back in the chair
quite exhausted, and shuts his eyes_.]

JEL. (_aside_.) I wish the doctor would come. It's high time that he
made his will.

CAD. (_drawing up his leg_.) Oh! oh! oh!

JEL. What's the matter, my dear Mr Cadaverous.

CAD. Oh! such pain!--oh! rub it, Mrs Jellybags.

JEL. What, here, my dear sir? (_Rubs his knee_.)

CAD. No, no!--Not there!--Oh, my hip!

JEL. What, here? (_Rubs his hip_.)

CAD. No, no!--higher--higher! Oh, my side!

JEL. What, here? (_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 won't talk any more about it.
(_Sinks back exhausted_.)

JEL. (_wiping her eyes_.) Here comes Dr 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 any