MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[2436] mind before my son. [2437] The worst was to be feared.

[2438] Where are we going, papa? he said. [2439] How often had I told him not to
ask me questions. [2440] And where were we going, in point of fact. [2441] Do as you're
told, I said. [2442] I have an appointment with Mr. ^[₰] Py tomorrow, he said. [2443] You'll
see him another day, I said. [2444] But I have an ache, he said. [2445] There exist
other dentists, I said, Mr. Py is not the unique dentist of the northern
hemisphere. [2446] I added rashly, w^We are not going to ^into the wilderness.

[2447] But he's
a very good dentist, he saiee^d. [2448] All dentit^sts are alike, I said. [2449] I could
have told him to get to hell out of that with his dentist, but no, I
reasoned gently with him, I spoke with himsas with an equal. [2450] I could
furthermore have pointed out to him that he was lying when he said he had
an ache. [2451] He did have an ache, in a premolar ^bicuspid I believe, but it was over.

[2452] Py himself had told me so. [2453] I have dressed the tooth, he said, your son
cannot possibly feel any more pain. [2454] I remembered this conversation well.
[2455] He has naturally very bad teeth, said Py. [2456] Naturally, I said, what do you
mean, naturally? [2457] What are you insinuating? [2458] He was born with bad teeth,
said Py, and all his life he will have bad teeth.

[2459] Naturally I shall do
what I can. [2460] Meaning, I was born with the disposition to do all I can, all
my life I shall do all I can, necessarily. [2461] Born with bad teeth! [2462] As for
me, I was down to my incisors, the nippers.

[2463] Is it still raining? I said. [2464] My son had drawn a small glass from his
pocket and was examining the inside of his mouth, prising away his upper
lip with his finger. [2465] Aaw, he said, without interrupting his inspection.
[2466] Stop messing about with your mouth! I cried.

[2467] Go to the window and tell
me if it's still raining. [2468] He went to the window anc^d told me it was still
raining. [2469] Is the sky completely overcast? I said. [2470] Yes, he said. [2471] Not the
least rift? I said. [2472] No, he said. [2473] Draw the curtains, I said. [2474] Delicious
instants, before one's eyes get used to the dark. [2475] Are you still there? I