The Examination
Emily excused herself, and went quickly up the stairs, wondering with excitement about her examination. She had never been examined before. Not really. What would it be like? Would she be horribly embarrassed? Would it hurt? Exactly what would the doctor do?
She entered her small study, closing the door behind her. Two windows lavishly draped in silk overlooked the garden. There was a small writing table with an office chair on small wheels, two upholstered chairs, the fainting couch, marble-topped tables, and walls lined with shelves holding Emily's books. The afternoon sun lit the room well. Emily wondered whether she should draw the drapes closed – but decided against it. The room was on the second floor, after all, and the doctor said he would required adequate light to examine her.
She untied her satin dressing gown, took it off, and laid it over a chair back. Then her corset, next her chemise, then her knee-length lace-trimmed drawers. Finally, Emily stood nude in the center of her study. She glanced at a vertical gilt mirror between the two chairs. Her breasts were small, but not too small. Her belly was almost flat. Her blonde pubic hair was scant – the same as it had been when she was still a teenaged girl. She wondered what Dr. Fallows – George – would be thinking while he examined her.
She reached for her dressing gown, and slipped it back on – enfolding it only loosely together in the front, then very loosely tying the sash. She opened the door, then crossed the room again and sat on the fainting couch, waiting for George.
In only seconds, there was a soft tapping at the door. "Come in", Emily said, a hint of nervousness in her voice. The door opened, and in stepped her maid Lucy. "Are you ready for the doctor, Mrs. Fessenden?"
"Yes, and I don't mind saying that I'm a little nervous about it Lucy", Emily said, pulling her gown a little closer together in the front.
"Dr. Fallow is highly recommended, Miss Emily. I have heard from a number of women that he has helped them considerably. My friend, Annie, who works for Mrs. Brooks, said that Dr. Fallow's treatments help her mistress immeasurably."
"Treatments?"
"Yes, Mrs. Fessenden. Dr. Fallows discovered that Mrs. Brooks has a problem with her womb, and he treats her in some way. Annie said that the treatments make all the difference for Mrs. Brooks. Annie says she improved from the very first treatment, and that she seems to derive great benefit from them. He treats her once or twice per week, I think. And I have heard that he has helped various other women, too. There are a number of women in town who simply insist that they could not manage without Dr. Fallow. I do not know what sort of treatments they are, but whatever he does, there are women who testify that he has changed their lives considerably for the better."
Just then, there was another light tapping on the door of Emily's study. It was George Fallow.
"Are you ready Mrs. Fessenden? May I come in?"
"Show the doctor in, Lucy, and close the door on your way out, please."
Lucy admitted Dr. Fallow to Emily's study, glanced reassuringly at her mistress, then left the room.
The doctor had a comforting smile, and asked, "Are you ready for your examination now Emily?"
"Yes, I think so", she replied, more than a hint of nervousness in her voice. "I've never had an examination before you know…what do you want me to do?"
"Just lie back, and relax. Put your legs up on the couch and stretch out. It is lower than the examination table in my office, but it will do. I'll simply sit during most of your examination instead of standing, as I normally would." Dr Fallows moved he chair from Emily's desk near the fainting couch, and sat down beside her. "Let me explain what I'm going to do before I proceed, and you ask me any questions that come to your mind." He laid his hand atop Emily's, and looked her kindly in the face.
"First I'm going to look into your eyes – look at your pupils. Then I'll check for any unusual swelling in places that are called ‘lymph nodes'. I'll feel carefully along your neck and throat, under your arms, and groin, and behind your knees to find if there is any congestion of lymph in any of those places. I have a stethoscope in my bag, which I will use to listen to your heart and your lungs. It won't hurt, Emily, I assure you. Doctors have been using stethoscopes for more than 50 years now. When I do, I'll open your dressing gown a little. After I've listened to your heart, I'll examine your breasts – and your gown will be more open then, of course."
Emily's pupils dilated, and she swallowed, as she noticed her heart beating a little harder while the doctor described the forthcoming examination.
"After your breasts, I will examine your abdomen – your belly. I'll press here and there, checking for anything abnormal regarding your organs. Finally I will examine your pelvis. I'll start on the outside, pressing on your lower abdomen just about the pubic area. Then I'll examine your genitals, and finally I will check your womb. Do you have any questions Emily?"
Her voice quavered a little as she asked, "How will you be checking my womb, George?" Her whole body felt tingly and faintly trembly now. Had she been standing she may have felt a little faint.