3. A Telephone Call

打来电话銆�

銆�銆�At about two o'clock on a cold winter morning, a doctor drove seven miles in answer to a telephone call. On his coming the man who had called him in said:

銆�銆�“Doctor, I don't have a sore throat, I don't cough, I have no pain either in the side or in the back, I'm not running a temperature, but still I feel that death is near.”

銆�銆�The doctor felt the man's pulse, listened to his heart and lungs and examined his throat.

銆�銆�“Have you made your will?”he asked at last.

銆�銆�“Why, no doctor. Oh, doctor, it isn't true, is it? I can't believe it.”

銆�銆�“Do you have children? Send for them at once. Your father, too, should be called; also your----”

銆�銆�“I say, doctor, do you really think I'm going to die?”

銆�銆�The doctor looked at him hard.

銆�銆�“No, I don't,”he replied.“There's nothing the matter with you. But I hate to be the only man you've made a fool of on a night like this.”

銆�銆�銆�