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his rom. The inflammation had spread out from his Joints of the fingers and the knee-cap His nervous excitement was attributed to the high temperature he suffered from The family doctor announced that it was rheumatic fever and advised complete rest and seclusion for the patient Doctors usually say so, and people usually take it so-so
When the news of his illness spread around, relaOn visiting the sick tions and friends started pouring in to inquire after his health.
Such courtesy calls are good in their own way But when visitors and particularly old folk insist upon admission to the sick room, and seeing the patient and talking to him, having of course no consideration for the poor fellow, the matter becomes a great nuisance But how can one offend these good folk" The doctor was a man of grim humour and when he saw this fan-fare, he gave peremptory orders that no one should be allowed to come into the room, except one or two who attended upon the bed
Here, Rup himself had fallen unconscious after showing the excited state of his mind by wild looks and frantic gestures. He lay senseless for a week or so Home-people were upset It seemed as if his Shasan Dev (guardian angel) had planned out this illness for him, so as to insure him full freedom from distractions, and to enable him to face for himself the great problems of life and death
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