The doctor made kindly apologies.
"Perhaps you have a sister, who could go to him ?" "No," replied Derrick.

"My only sister is married, and her husband would never allow it." "Or a cousin or an aunt ?" suggested the old man, naively unconscious that the words sounded like a quotation.
I saw the ghost of a smile flit over Derrick's harassed face as he shook his head.
"I suggested that he should go into some Home for--cases of the kind," resumed the doctor, "or place himself under the charge of some medical man; however, he won't hear of such a thing.

But if he is left to himself--well, it is all up with him.

He will drink himself to death in a few months." "He shall not be left alone," said Derrick; "I will live with him.

Do you think I should do?
It seems to be Hobson's choice." I looked up in amazement--for here was Derrick calmly giving himself up to a life that must crush every plan for the future he had made.