Chapter 86 Chapter 86

In a blink of an eye, spring is here.As soon as the dressings were over in the outpatient department of surgery, Philip went to work as an assistant in the inpatient department.This work will last for half a year.Every morning, the assistant had to go with the resident doctor to round the wards, first the men's ward, then the women's ward.He had to log in, check patients, and spend time with the nurses.Two afternoons a week, the doctor on duty led several assistants to patrol the ward, study the disease, and impart medical knowledge to the assistants.This is not like the outpatient department. The work is dull and monotonous, and it is not closely related to reality.Still, Philip learned a lot.He got along very well with the patients, and it was a little smug to see them smile and welcome him to nurse them.In fact, he may not have deep sympathy for the pain and itching of the patients, but he likes them very much and never puts on airs in front of others.Therefore, he is more popular than the other assistants.Philip has a gentle disposition, treats people kindly, and speaks warmly.Like everyone who had anything to do with the hospital, Philip found that male patients were easier to live with than female patients.The female patient complained frequently, and her temper was utterly out of control.They often complained bitterly about the overwhelmed nurses and blamed the nurses for not taking good care of them.They are all headaches, heartless stinky bitches.

Fortunately for Philip, it didn't take long for him to make a friend.One morning the resident handed Philip a new male patient.Philip sat on the edge of the bed and began to record the details of the patient's condition in the medical record card.In looking at the card Philip saw that the patient was a journalist, his name was Thorpe Athelny, and he was forty-eight, an unusual inpatient.The patient had a sudden onset of jaundice, and it was violent.In view of the inconspicuous symptoms, it seemed that further observation was necessary, so he was sent to the ward.Philip asked a series of questions, in a pleasant, cultivated tone, as his profession required, and the patient answered them all.Thorpe Athelny was lying on the bed, so it was difficult to tell at once whether he was tall or short.But his small head and small hands indicated that he was of medium to short stature.Philip was in the habit of looking at other people's hands, and Athelny's hands struck him now: tiny hands, with delicate rose-coloured nails on the tips of the long, pointed fingers, and very fine skin. Delicate, if it weren't for the jaundice, the complexion would be surprisingly white.Athelny put her hands on the quilt, one hand slightly open, the ring and middle fingers closed together, and seemed to be looking at his fingers with some complacency as he talked to Philip.Philip flashed his bright eyes and scanned the other person's face.Despite its sallow complexion, it was still a lively face.His eyes are blue, his nose is conspicuously protruding, and the tip of his nose is hook-shaped. Although his appearance is a bit scary, he is not ugly at all.A handful of gray beards are curled up.The top of the head is very bald.But he turned out to be pretty handsome with thick curly hair, obviously.Right now he has long hair.

"I suppose you're a reporter," Philip began. "What newspaper do you write for?" "I write for any newspaper. There is no newspaper that does not read my articles." At this time, there was a newspaper beside the bed, and Athelny pointed to the advertisement in the newspaper.The name of the firm familiar to Philip was emblazoned in large type on the newspaper: Lane & Sedley & Co. in Ragenlin Street, London.Immediately below is the usual ad: Procrastination is stealing time.Although the font is slightly smaller than the one above, it is still prominent enough.Next came a question, startling because it was so logically asked: Why not order today?Then he repeated "Why not?" in large font. These five big characters are like hammers, beating the conscience of the time thief.Below is a few big lines: buy thousands of pairs of gloves from all major markets in the world at amazingly high prices.Thousands of pairs of stockings were on sale from some of the most reliable manufacturers in the universe.The ad ends by repeating the "Why not order today?" question, but this time it's written like a samurai gauntlet in an arena.

"I'm a press agent for Ryan and Sedley." Athelny waved his handsome hand as he introduced himself. Philip went on to ask ordinary questions, some of which were merely trivial, and some of which were carefully designed to induce the patient to utter things which he might not have wished to disclose. "Have you ever been abroad?" asked Philip. "Spent eleven years in Spain."" "What are you doing there?" "Secretary at the British Water Company in Toledo.". Now Philip remembered that Clutton had also been in Toledo for a few months.Hearing the reporter's answer, Philip watched him with increased interest.However, he also felt that it was inappropriate for him to be so emotional, because as a hospital employee, he had to keep a certain distance from hospital patients.So, after examining Athelny, he went to the other beds.

Thorpe Athelny was not seriously ill, and though he was still very sallow, he soon felt better.He remains bedridden because he remains under observation until doctors deem certain reactions to be normal.One day Philip entered the ward and found Athelny reading a book with a pencil in his hand.When Philip reached his bed he slammed the book shut. "May I see what you're reading?" asked Philip, who couldn't rest without turning the pages of a book. Philip picked up the book and saw that it was a collection of Spanish poetry, all written by San Juan de la Cruz.As he was opening the book of poems, a slip of paper fell out of the book.Philip picked it up and saw that there was a poem written on the paper.

"You can't say you're borrowing poems for leisure, can you? That's the most inappropriate thing to do for a hospital patient." "I'm trying to do some poetry translation. Do you know Spanish?" "don't know." "Well, you know all about San Juan de la Cruz, don't you?" "I really don't know anything." "He's one of the mysteries of Spain and one of its preeminent poets. I thought it would be interesting to translate his poems into English." "May I read your translation, please?" "The translation is still very rough," said Athelny, but he put it in front of Philip with a swiftness that showed that he was eager for Philip to read it.

The translation is written in pencil, with elegant but weird handwriting, like a pile of bold type, which is difficult to read. "Does it take a lot of time for you to write like this? Your handwriting is very beautiful." "I don't see why it shouldn't be beautifully written?" Philip read Athelnezer's first poem: Late at night, the moon is dim; Heart burning with desire, Oh, the happiness is indescribable! While the whole family is sleepy, I quietly walked forward... Philip looked at Thorpe Adelnier with twinkling curiosity.He couldn't tell whether he was a little shy around him, or whether he was fascinated by him.Suddenly, he realized that his attitude had been somewhat arrogant.Philip felt ashamed at the thought that Athelny might find him ridiculous.

"You have a very special name," Philip began at last, but there must be something to talk about. "Athelny is the name of a very old and distinguished family in Yorkshire. My head of the family went out to inspect his property, and at one point I had to ride a whole horse, but the family fell into ruin. Spent it all on rambunctious women and betting on horse races." Athelny, who was short-sighted, squinted strangely when he was talking, and stared hard at other people.He picked up the book of poems. "You should learn Spanish," Athelny said to Philip. "Spanish is an elegant language, not as fluent as Italian, which is the language of the tenors and the hand-organists in the street, but grandiose. It is not like the brook in the garden The sound of gurgling water is like the sound of surging waves when the tide is high."

Philip was amused by his not without exaggeration, but he had a good sense of what was said.Athelny spoke beamingly and enthusiastically, telling Philip about the incomparable joy of reading "Don Quixote" in the original, and talking about the fascinating style of Codron's clarity, rhythm and passion. and legendary plays.At this moment, Philip was listening with great interest. "Oh, I must go to work," said Philip suddenly. "Oh, excuse me, I forgot. I'm going to ask my wife to send me a picture of Toledo, and I'll show it to you. Come and talk to me when you get a chance. You don't know, with you How happy I am to chat together."

In the next few days, Philip went to see Athelny whenever he could, so their friendship grew day by day.Thorpe Athelney was a very articulate man, and his conversation was not very brilliant, but it sparkled from time to time to stimulate the imagination, which was quite inspiring.After living in this false world for so many years, Philip found that many new pictures had never been created in his mind.Athelny's attitude is generous and generous, and she knows more than Philip, whether it is worldly knowledge or book knowledge.He was much older than Philip.He talked eloquently, with an elder demeanor.But right now, he is in the hospital and is a recipient of charity, and he has to follow strict rules and regulations in everything.He was able to cope with the different positions of these two identities, and he was not without a sense of humor.Once, Philip asked him why he was admitted to the hospital.

"Oh, it's my rule of life to enjoy the benefits that society can provide as much as possible. I have to make good use of the time I live in. When I'm sick, I go to the hospital to rest. I don't give false face. I also send my kids to boarding school." "Really?" asked Philip. "They also have a basic education, many times better than what I got at Winchester. Come to think of it, how else can I get them educated?" I have nine kids. When I get home from the hospital, you've got to come over to my house and meet them. Okay?" "Very willingly," repeated Philip.