Page:The Professor's House - Willa Cather.pdf/274

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

III

YHE family doctor knew all about St. Peter. It was summer, moreover, and he had plenty of time. He devoted several mornings to the Professor and made tests of the most searching kind. In the end he of course told St. Peter there was nothing the matter with him.

"What made you come to me, any discomfort or pain?"

"None. I simply feel tired all the time."

Dr. Dudley shrugged.

"Almost too much."

"Eat well ?"

"So do I! Sleep well?"

"In every sense of the word, well. I am my own chef."

"Always a gourmet, and never anything wrong with your digestive tract! I wish you'd ask me to dine with you some night. Any of that sherry left?"

"A little. I use it plentifully."

"'ll bet you do! But why did you think there was something wrong with you? Low in your mind?"

-268-