are you a doctor

During the first few seconds of Arnold Breit seemed very hesitant to carry on the conversation with Clara Holt. He tried to say everything he’s got to say and sounded like all he wanted to do then was to hang up and wait for his wife’s call. However, there was a sudden change of tone as soon as Clara praised him in a line – “You sound like a nice man.” He then sounded like maybe he ought to hear out what the lady at the end of the line has got to say. This kind of scenario occurs repeatedly in the story and I assume that Arnold do not get praised very often by women. His wife might be the only woman he has been in contact with after a long period of time and that is why he seems to pause every time he’s praised, as if to think of something nice to reply. However, he doesn’t get carried away too far. There was a part of him which doesn’t feel good, talking to clear. Either that or he feels like he’s betraying his wife every time he meets or ta...