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Half an hour later he heard the sound of a bell, and he saw the doctor enter at the further end of the hall, accompanied by an assistant; the sister and a nurse followed him. They began the visit, pausing at every bed. This time of waiting seemed an eternity to the lad, and his anxiety increased at every step of the doctor. At length they arrived at the next bed. The doctor was an old man, tall and stooping, with a grave face. Before he left the next bed the boy rose to his feet, and when he approached he began to cry.
過了半點鐘，鈴聲一響，醫生和助手從室的那面來了，后面跟著兩個看護婦。醫生按了病床的順序一一診察，費去了不少的工夫。醫生愈近攏來，西西洛憂慮也愈重，終于診察到鄰接的病床了。醫生是個身長而背微曲的誠實的老人。西西洛不待醫生過來，就站了起來。等醫生走近他就忍不住哭了。
The doctor looked at him.
醫生注視著他。
"He is the sick man's son," said the sister; "he arrived this morning from the country."
“這是這位病人的兒子，今天早晨從鄉下來的。”看護婦說。
The doctor placed one hand on his shoulder; then bent over the sick man, felt his pulse, touched his forehead, and asked a few questions of the sister, who replied, "There is nothing new." Then he thought for a while and said, "Continue the present treatment."
醫生一手搭在少年肩上，向病人俯伏了檢查脈搏，手摸頭額，又向看護婦問了經過狀況。“也沒有什么特別變化，仍照前調理就是了。”醫生對看護婦說。
Then the boy plucked up courage, and asked in a tearful voice, "What is the matter with my father?"
“我父親怎樣？”少年鼓了勇氣，咽著淚問。
"Take courage, my boy," replied the doctor, laying his hand on his shoulder once more; "he has erysipelas in his face. It is a serious case, but there is still hope. Help him. Your presence may do him a great deal of good."
醫生又將手放在少年肩上：“不要擔心！臉上發了丹毒了。雖是很厲害，但還有希望。請你當心服侍他！有你在旁邊，真是再好不過了。”
"But he does not know me!" exclaimed the boy in a tone of affliction.
“但是，我和他說話，他都不明白呢。”少年呼吸急迫地說。
"He will recognize you--tomorrow perhaps. Let us hope for the best and keep up our courage."
“就會明白吧，如果到了明天。總之，病是應該有救的，請不要傷心！”醫生安慰他說。
The boy would have liked to ask some more questions, but he did not dare. The doctor passed on. And then he began his life of nurse. As he could do nothing else, he arranged the coverlets of the sick man, touched his hand every now and then, drove away the flies, bent over him at every groan, and when the sister brought him something to drink, he took the glass or the spoon from her hand, and administered it in her stead. The sick man looked at him occasionally, but he gave no sign of recognition. However, his glance rested longer on the lad each time, especially when the latter put his handkerchief to his eyes.
西西洛還有話想問，只是說不出來，醫生就走了。從此，西西洛就一心服侍他爸爸的病。別的原來都是不會做的，或是替病人整頓枕被，或是時常用手去摸病人的手，或者趕去蒼蠅，或是聽到病人呻吟，注視病人的臉色，或是當看護婦送來湯藥，就取了調匙代為服喂。病人時時張眼看西西洛，好像仍不明白，不過每次注視他的時間漸漸地長了些。西西洛用手帕遮住了眼睛哭泣的時候，病人總是凝視著他。
