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And I had time to practice my smile,
because when I got there, it was half-past one,
and I wasn't due to be there until half-past six!

Finally I joined the back of the line.

I rubbed my cheeks one final time,
as to give the appearance of good health,
then I pranced in.

I bowed while smiling from ear to ear -
And began instantly in a jesting tone:
"A mild ailment---!"

But he didn't pay attention to me.
First he wrote out, in chicken scratch,
the bill for his last patient,

Then he shouted grandly:

"Sit!"