[MADHAV'S House]
MADHAV. What a state I am in! Before he came, nothing mattered;
I felt so free. But now that he has come, goodness knows from
where, my heart is filled with his dear self, and my home will be
no home to me when he leaves. Doctor, do you think he--
PHYSICIAN. If there's life in his fate, then he will live long.
But what the medical scriptures say, it seems--
MADHAV. Great heavens, what?
PHYSICIAN. The scriptures have it: "Bile or palsey, cold or gout
spring all alike."
MADHAV. Oh, get along, don't fling your scriptures at me; you
only make me more anxious; tell me what I can do.
PHYSICIAN. [Taking snuff] The patient needs the most scrupulous
care.
MADHAV. That's true; but tell me how.
PHYSICIAN. I have already mentioned, on no account must he be
let out of doors.
MADHAV Poor child, it is very hard to keep him indoors all day
long.
PHYSICIAN. What else can you do? The autumn sun and the damp
are both very bad for the little fellow--for the scriptures have
it:
"In wheezing, swoon or in nervous fret,
In jaundice or leaden eyes--"
MADHAV. Never mind the scriptures, please. Eh, then we must
shut the poor thing up. Is there no other method?