The cottage visit

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Rain had followed Dr Ellison’s carriage for the last mile, and water ran from his hat as Mrs Rowe admitted him to the cottage. He did not remove his coat. ‘Before I begin,’ he said, looking around the narrow room, ‘has the fee been found?’ Mrs Rowe fetched a saucer from the mantelpiece. Six shillings lay upon it, arranged in a careful circle.

Clara coughed from behind the curtain. The doctor turned at once, but Mrs Rowe had already noticed him consult his watch. She explained how the illness had begun, speaking rapidly as though each minute must be paid for separately. He asked her to repeat several details. Then he placed the watch beside Clara’s pillow and counted the spaces between the child’s breaths. His questions became quieter, and he no longer looked towards the door.

A servant arrived from the Hall to remind him that dinner was waiting. Dr Ellison sent the man away for clean blankets and remained beside the bed. The fire sank. Rain dried in pale marks upon his coat. Once, when Clara woke, he gave her water himself rather than calling her mother from the next room.

It was nearly midnight when he rose. Clara’s breathing was easier. Mrs Rowe offered him the saucer, apologising because two of the coins were worn. Dr Ellison folded all six inside the paper on which he had written his instructions and placed the packet in her hand.

‘She will need food when she is stronger,’ he said.

He left before Mrs Rowe could answer. His carriage had gone, so he set off towards the town on foot, carrying his muddy hat beneath his arm.

“Dr Ellison is presented as caring more about his fee than about Clara.”

Evaluate how successfully the writer presents this idea. Support your judgement with detailed references to the passage.