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house.

Johnsy fell very seriously ill in November. She had pneumonia. She

would lie in her bed without moving, just gazing out of the window. Sue,

her friend, became very worried. She sent for the doctor. Although he

came every day there was no change in Johnsy’s condition.

Pneumonia: a disease caused due to the infection of the lungs

Gazing: looking

In the month of November Johnsy was struck by pneumonia. She

remained in bed and would look out of the window. Sue was worried

about Johnsy and called the doctor. The doctor visited them daily but

there was no improvement in Johnsy’s health.

One day the doctor took Sue aside and asked her, “Is anything worrying

Johnsy?”

The doctor secretly asked Sue if something was the matter with Johnsy.

“No,” replied Sue. “But why do you ask?”

Sue replied that there was nothing to worry and asked why did the

doctor think so.

The doctor said “Johnsy, it seems, has made up her mind that she is not

going to get well. If she doesn’t want to live, medicines will not help her.”

The doctor said that it seemed that Johnsy had decided not to live and

did not want to recover from the illness. In such a case, medicines would

not work on her.

Sue tried her best to make Johnsy take an interest in things around her.

She talked about clothes and fashions, but Johnsy did not respond.

Johnsy continued to lie still on her bed. Sue brought her drawing-board