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.
过了半点钟，铃声一响，医生和助手从室的那面来了，后面跟着两个看护妇。医生按了病床的顺序一一诊察，费去了不少的工夫。医生愈近拢来，西西洛忧虑也愈重，终于诊察到邻接的病床了。医生是个身长而背微曲的诚实的老人。西西洛不待医生过来，就站了起来。等医生走近他就忍不住哭了。
The doctor looked at him.
医生注视着他。
"He is the sick man's son," said the sister; "he arrived this morning from the country."
“这是这位病人的儿子，今天早晨从乡下来的。”看护妇说。
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."
医生一手搭在少年肩上，向病人俯伏了检查脉搏，手摸头额，又向看护妇问了经过状况。“也没有什么特别变化，仍照前调理就是了。”医生对看护妇说。
Then the boy plucked up courage, and asked in a tearful voice, "What is the matter with my father?"
“我父亲怎样？”少年鼓了勇气，咽着泪问。

"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."
医生又将手放在少年肩上：“不要担心！脸上发了丹毒了。虽是很厉害，但还有希望。请你当心服侍他！有你在旁边，真是再好不过了。”
"But he does not know me!" exclaimed the boy in a tone of affliction.
“但是，我和他说话，他都不明白呢。”少年呼吸急迫地说。
"He will recognize you--tomorrow perhaps. Let us hope for the best and keep up our courage."
“就会明白吧，如果到了明天。总之，病是应该有救的，请不要伤心！”医生安慰他说。
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.
西西洛还有话想问，只是说不出来，医生就走了。从此，西西洛就一心服侍他爸爸的病。别的原来都是不会做的，或是替病人整顿枕被，或是时常用手去摸病人的手，或者赶去苍蝇，或是听到病人呻吟，注视病人的脸色，或是当看护妇送来汤药，就取了调匙代为服喂。病人时时张眼看西西洛，好像仍不明白，不过每次注视他的时间渐渐地长了些。西西洛用手帕遮住了眼睛哭泣的时候，病人总是凝视着他。