A SHORT CONVERSATION.
Reading edition
The celebrated physician, Dr. Abernethy, was famous for the brevity and bluntness of his answers; he never used a word more than was necessary. One day a lady who knew his peculiarity came to him and held out her finger without a word.
'Cut?' asked the doctor.
'Bite,' answered the patient.
'Dog?'
'Parrot.'
'Go home and poultice,' said Abernethy.
The next day the finger was again shown.
'Better?' was the doctor's question.
'Worse.'
'Poultice again.'
Lastly, when the finger was at length cured, the doctor even went so far as to compliment his patient.
'Better?' he asked.
'Quite well.'
'Good. You are the most sensible woman I ever met. Good-day.'