It frightens him.

He's never been ill in his life before," said Lilly.
"His bowels won't work if he lets all his spirit go, like an animal dying of the sulks," said the doctor impatiently.

"He might go off quite suddenly--dead before you can turn round--" Lilly was properly troubled.

Yet he did not quite know what to do.

It was early afternoon, and the sun was shining into the room.