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diff --git a/old/orig9320-h/p2.htm b/old/orig9320-h/p2.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f588dc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/orig9320-h/p2.htm @@ -0,0 +1,675 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>A DOCTOR OF THE OLD SCHOOL, Part 2.</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {margin:15%; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + img {border: 0;} + blockquote {font-size: 97%; } + .figleft {float: left;} + .figright {float: right;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-family: Times; font-size: 97%; margin-left: 15%;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> +<h1>Part 2</h1> + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p1.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="9320-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p3.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> +<br><br> + + + + +<center> +<h1>A DOCTOR OF THE OLD SCHOOL</h1> + +<h2>by Ian Maclaren</h2> +<a name="Frontispiece"></a> + +<a href="images/Frontispiece.png"><img alt="Frontispiece.jpg (87K)" src="images/Frontispiece.jpg" height="693" width="598"></a> + +<a href="images/001.png"><img alt="001.jpg (155K)" src="images/001.jpg" height="817" width="503"></a> +</center> +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> + +<br><br> +<center> +<h1> +Part 2. +<br><br> +THROUGH THE FLOOD.</h1> +</center> +<br><br> +<br><br> + +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + + + +[A click on the face of any <br> +illustration will enlarge it to full size.]<br><br> + +<a href="#Frontispiece">DR. MacLURE</a><br> +<a href="#044">BOOK II. THROUGH THE FLOOD</a><br> +<a href="#046">A' doot Yir Gaein' tae Lose Her, Tammas</a><br> +<a href="#049">The Bonniest, Snoddest, Kindliest Lass in the Glen</a><br> +<a href="#050">The Winter Night was Falling Fast</a><br> +<a href="#051">Comin' tae Meet Me in the Gloamin'</a><br> +<a href="#056">It's oot o' the Question, Jess, sae Hurry up</a><br> +<a href="#058">It's a Fell Chairge for a Short Day's Work</a><br> +<a href="#061">The East had Come to Meet the West</a><br> +<a href="#064">MacLure Explained that it would be an Eventful Journey</a><br> +<a href="#066">They Passed through the Shallow Water without Mishap</a><br> +<a href="#069">A Heap of Speechless Misery by the Kitchen Fire</a><br> +<a href="#071">Ma ain Dear Man</a><br> +<a href="#074">I'm Proud to have Met You</a><br> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br><br><br><br> + +<h2> +PREFACE</h2> + +<p>It is with great good will that I write this short preface to the +edition of "A Doctor of the Old School" (which has been illustrated by +Mr. Gordon after an admirable and understanding fashion) because there +are two things that I should like to say to my readers, being also my +friends.</p> + +<p>One, is to answer a question that has been often and fairly asked. Was +there ever any doctor so self-forgetful and so utterly Christian as +William MacLure? To which I am proud to reply, on my conscience: Not one +man, but many in Scotland and in the South country. I will dare prophecy +also across the sea.</p> + +<p>It has been one man's good fortune to know four country doctors, not one +of whom was without his faults—Weelum was not perfect—but who, each +one, might have sat for my hero. Three are now resting from their +labors, and the fourth, if he ever should see these lines, would never +identify himself.</p> + +<p>Then I desire to thank my readers, and chiefly the medical profession +for the reception given to the Doctor of Drumtochty.</p> + +<p>For many years I have desired to pay some tribute to a class whose +service to the community was known to every countryman, but after the +tale had gone forth my heart failed. For it might have been despised +for the little grace of letters in the style and because of the outward +roughness of the man. But neither his biographer nor his circumstances +have been able to obscure MacLure who has himself won all honest hearts, +and received afresh the recognition of his more distinguished brethren. +From all parts of the English-speaking world letters have come in +commendation of Weelum MacLure, and many were from doctors who had +received new courage. It is surely more honor than a new writer could +ever have deserved to receive the approbation of a profession whose +charity puts us all to shame.</p> + +<p>May I take this first opportunity to declare how deeply my heart has +been touched by the favor shown to a simple book by the American people, +and to express my hope that one day it may be given me to see you face +to face.</p> + +<p>IAN MACLAREN. Liverpool, Oct. 4, 1895.</p> + +<br><br> + + +<br><br><br><br> + +<br><br> +<a name="II"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<h1>THROUGH THE FLOOD.</h1> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<a name="044"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/044.png"><img alt="044.jpg (67K)" src="images/044.jpg" height="666" width="538"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p> +Doctor MacLure did not lead a solemn procession from the sick bed to +the dining-room, and give his opinion from the hearthrug with an air of +wisdom bordering on the supernatural, because neither the Drumtochty +houses nor his manners were on that large scale. He was accustomed to +deliver himself in the yard, and to conclude his directions with one +foot in the stirrup; but when he left the room where the life of Annie +Mitchell was ebbing slowly away, our doctor said not one word, and at +the sight of his face her husband's heart was troubled.</p> + +<p>He was a dull man, Tammas, who could not read the meaning of a sign, and +labored under a perpetual disability of speech; but love was eyes to him +that day, and a mouth.</p> + +<p>"Is't as bad as yir lookin', doctor? tell's the truth; wull Annie no +come through?" and Tammas looked MacLure straight in the face, who never +flinched his duty or said smooth things.</p> + +<p>"A' wud gie onything tae say Annie hes a chance, but a' daurna; a' doot +yir gaein' tae lose her, Tammas."</p> + +<p>MacLure was in the saddle, and as he gave his judgment, he laid his hand +on Tammas's shoulder with one of the rare caresses that pass between +men.</p> + + + +<a name="046"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/046.png"><img alt="046.jpg (79K)" src="images/046.jpg" height="661" width="465"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"It's a sair business, but ye 'ill play the man and no vex Annie; +she 'ill dae her best, a'll warrant."</p> + +<p>"An' a'll dae mine," and Tammas gave MacLure's hand a grip that would +have crushed the bones of a weakling. Drumtochty felt in such moments +the brotherliness of this rough-looking man, and loved him.</p> + +<p>Tammas hid his face in Jess's mane, who looked round with sorrow in her +beautiful eyes, for she had seen many tragedies, and in this silent +sympathy the stricken man drank his cup, drop by drop.</p> + +<p>"A' wesna prepared for this, for a' aye thocht she wud live the +langest.... She's younger than me by ten years, and never wes ill.... +We've been mairit twal year laist Martinmas, but it's juist like a year +the day... A' wes never worthy o' her, the bonniest, snoddest (neatest), +kindliest lass in the Glen.... A' never cud mak oot hoo she ever lookit +at me, 'at hesna hed ae word tae say aboot her till it's ower late.... +She didna cuist up tae me that a' wesna worthy o' her, no her, but aye +she said, 'Yir ma ain gudeman, and nane cud be kinder tae me.' ... An' +a' wes minded tae be kind, but a' see noo mony little trokes a' micht +hae dune for her, and noo the time is bye.... Naebody kens hoo patient +she wes wi' me, and aye made the best o 'me, an' never pit me tae shame +afore the fouk.... An' we never hed ae cross word, no ane in twal +year.... We were mair nor man and wife, we were sweethearts a' the +time.... Oh, ma bonnie lass, what 'ill the bairnies an' me dae withoot +ye, Annie?"</p> + + +<a name="049"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/049.png"><img alt="049.jpg (90K)" src="images/049.jpg" height="782" width="484"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>The winter night was falling fast, the snow lay deep upon the ground, +and the merciless north wind moaned through the close as Tammas wrestled +with his sorrow dry-eyed, for tears were denied Drumtochty men. Neither +the doctor nor Jess moved hand or foot, but their hearts were with +their fellow creature, and at length the doctor made a sign to Marget +Howe, who had come out in search of Tammas, and now stood by his side.</p> + + + +<a name="050"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/050.png"><img alt="050.jpg (36K)" src="images/050.jpg" height="222" width="458"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Dinna mourn tae the brakin' o' yir hert, Tammas," she said, "as if +Annie an' you hed never luved. Neither death nor time can pairt them +that luve; there's naethin' in a' the warld sae strong as luve. If Annie +gaes frae the sichot' yir een she 'ill come the nearer tae yir hert. +She wants tae see ye, and tae hear ye say that ye 'ill never forget her +nicht nor day till ye meet in the land where there's nae pairtin'. Oh, +a' ken what a'm saying', for it's five year noo sin George gied awa, +an' he's mair wi' me noo than when he wes in Edinboro' and I was in +Drumtochty."</p> + + +<a name="051"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/051.png"><img alt="051.jpg (41K)" src="images/051.jpg" height="356" width="450"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Thank ye kindly, Marget; thae are gude words and true, an' ye hev the +richt tae say them; but a' canna dae without seem' Annie comin' tae meet +me in the gloamin', an' gaein' in an' oot the hoose, an' hearin' her ca' +me by ma name, an' a'll no can tell her that a'luve her when there's nae +Annie in the hoose.</p> + +<p>"Can naethin' be dune, doctor? Ye savit Flora Cammil, and young +Burnbrae, an' yon shepherd's wife Dunleith wy, an' we were a sae prood +o' ye, an' pleased tae think that ye hed keepit deith frae anither hame. +Can ye no think o' somethin' tae help Annie, and gie her back tae her +man and bairnies?" and Tammas searched the doctor's face in the cold, +weird light.</p> + +<p>"There's nae pooer on heaven or airth like luve," Marget said to me +afterwards; "it maks the weak strong and the dumb tae speak. Oor herts +were as water afore Tammas's words, an' a' saw the doctor shake in his +saddle. A' never kent till that meenut hoo he hed a share in a'body's +grief, an' carried the heaviest wecht o' a' the Glen. A' peetied him wi' +Tammas lookin' at him sae wistfully, as if he hed the keys o' life an' +deith in his hands. But he wes honest, and wudna hold oot a false houp +tae deceive a sore hert or win escape for himsel'."</p> + +<p>"Ye needna plead wi' me, Tammas, to dae the best a' can for yir wife. +Man, a' kent her lang afore ye ever luved her; a' brocht her intae the +warld, and a' saw her through the fever when she wes a bit lassikie; +a' closed her mither's een, and it was me hed tae tell her she wes an +orphan, an' nae man wes better pleased when she got a gude husband, and +a' helpit her wi' her fower bairns. A've naither wife nor bairns o' ma +own, an' a' coont a' the fouk o' the Glen ma family. Div ye think a' +wudna save Annie if I cud? If there wes a man in Muirtown 'at cud dae +mair for her, a'd have him this verra nicht, but a' the doctors in +Perthshire are helpless for this tribble.</p> + +<p>"Tammas, ma puir fallow, if it could avail, a' tell ye a' wud lay doon +this auld worn-oot ruckle o' a body o' mine juist tae see ye baith +sittin' at the fireside, an' the bairns roond ye, couthy an' canty +again; but it's no tae be, Tammas, it's no tae be."</p> + +<p>"When a' lookit at the doctor's face," Marget said, "a' thocht him the +winsomest man a' ever saw. He was transfigured that nicht, for a'm +judging there's nae transfiguration like luve."</p> + +<p>"It's God's wull an' maun be borne, but it's a sair wull for me, an' a'm +no ungratefu' tae you, doctor, for a' ye've dune and what ye said the +nicht," and Tammas went back to sit with Annie for the last time.</p> + +<p>Jess picked her way through the deep snow to the main road, with a skill +that came of long experience, and the doctor held converse with her +according to his wont.</p> + +<p>"Eh, Jess wumman, yon wes the hardest wark a' hae tae face, and a' wud +raither hae ta'en ma chance o' anither row in a Glen Urtach drift than +tell Tammas Mitchell his wife wes deein'. </p> + +<p>"A' said she cudna be cured, and it wes true, for there's juist ae man +in the land fit for't, and they micht as weel try tae get the mune oot +o' heaven. Sae a' said naethin' tae vex Tammas's hert, for it's heavy +eneuch withoot regrets.</p> + +<p>"But it's hard, Jess, that money wull buy life after a', an' if Annie +wes a duchess her man wudna lose her; but bein' only a puir cottar's +wife, she maun dee afore the week's oot.</p> + +<p>"Gin we hed him the morn there's little doot she would be saved, for he +hesna lost mair than five per cent, o' his cases, and they 'ill be puir +toon's craturs, no strappin women like Annie.</p> + + + +<a name="056"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/056.png"><img alt="056.jpg (79K)" src="images/056.jpg" height="603" width="476"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"It's oot o' the question, Jess, sae hurry up, lass, for we've hed a +heavy day. But it wud be the grandest thing that was ever dune in the +Glen in oor time if it could be managed by hook or crook.</p> + +<p>"We 'ill gang and see Drumsheugh, Jess; he's anither man sin' Geordie +Hoo's deith, and he wes aye kinder than fouk kent;" and the doctor +passed at a gallop through the village, whose lights shone across the +white frost-bound road.</p> + +<p>"Come in by, doctor; a' heard ye on the road; ye 'ill hae been at Tammas +Mitchell's; hoo's the gudewife? a' doot she's sober."</p> + +<p>"Annie's deein', Drumsheugh, an' Tammas is like tae brak his hert."</p> + +<p>"That's no lichtsome, doctor, no lichtsome ava, for a' dinna ken ony +man in Drumtochty sae bund up in his wife as Tammas, and there's no +a bonnier wumman o' her age crosses our kirk door than Annie, nor a +cleverer at her wark. Man, ye 'ill need tae pit yir brains in steep. Is +she clean beyond ye?"</p> + +<p>"Beyond me and every ither in the land but ane, and it wud cost a +hundred guineas tae bring him tae Drumtochty."</p> + + + +<a name="058"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/058.png"><img alt="058.jpg (59K)" src="images/058.jpg" height="473" width="344"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"Certes, he's no blate; it's a fell chairge for a short day's work; but +hundred or no hundred we'll hae him, an' no let Annie gang, and her no +half her years."</p> + +<p>"Are ye meanin' it, Drumsheugh?" and MacLure turned white below the tan. +"William MacLure," said Drumsheugh, in one of the few confidences that +ever broke the Drumtochty reserve, "a'm a lonely man, wi' naebody o' ma +ain blude tae care for me livin', or tae lift me intae ma coffin when +a'm deid.</p> + +<p>"A' fecht awa at Muirtown market for an extra pound on a beast, or a +shillin' on the quarter o' barley, an' what's the gude o't? Burnbrae +gaes aff tae get a goon for his wife or a buke for his college laddie, +an' Lachlan Campbell 'ill no leave the place noo without a ribbon for +Flora.</p> + +<p>"Ilka man in the Klldrummie train has some bit fairin' his pooch for the +fouk at hame that he's bocht wi' the siller he won.</p> + +<p>"But there's naebody tae be lookin' oot for me, an' comin' doon the road +tae meet me, and daffin' (joking) wi' me about their fairing, or feeling +ma pockets. Ou ay, a've seen it a' at ither hooses, though they tried +tae hide it frae me for fear a' wud lauch at them. Me lauch, wi' ma +cauld, empty hame!</p> + +<p>"Yir the only man kens, Weelum, that I aince luved the noblest wumman in +the glen or onywhere, an' a' luve her still, but wi' anither luve noo.</p> + +<p>"She had given her heart tae anither, or a've thocht a' micht hae +won her, though nae man be worthy o' sic a gift. Ma hert turned tae +bitterness, but that passed awa beside the brier bush whar George Hoo +lay yon sad simmer time. Some day a'll tell ye ma story, Weelum, for you +an' me are auld freends, and will be till we dee."</p> + +<p>MacLure felt beneath the table for Drumsheugh's hand, but neither man +looked at the other.</p> + +<p>"Weel, a' we can dae noo, Weelum, gin we haena mickle brichtness in oor +ain names, is tae keep the licht frae gaein' oot in anither hoose. Write +the telegram, man, and Sandy 'ill send it aff frae Kildrummie this +verra nicht, and ye 'ill hae yir man the morn."</p> + + +<p>"Yir the man a' coonted ye, Drumsheugh, but ye 'ill grant me ae favor. +Ye 'ill lat me pay the half, bit by bit—a' ken yir wullin' tae dae't +a'—but a' haena mony pleasures, an' a' wud like tae hae ma ain share in +savin' Annie's life."</p> + + +<a name="061"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/061.png"><img alt="061.jpg (84K)" src="images/061.jpg" height="717" width="471"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>Next morning a figure received Sir George on the Kildrummie platform, +whom that famous surgeon took for a gillie, but who introduced himself +as "MacLure of Drumtochty." It seemed as if the East had come to meet +the West when these two stood together, the one in travelling furs, +handsome and distinguished, with his strong, cultured face and carriage +of authority, a characteristic type of his profession; and the other +more marvellously dressed than ever, for Drumsheugh's topcoat had been +forced upon him for the occasion, his face and neck one redness with the +bitter cold; rough and ungainly, yet not without some signs of power in +his eye and voice, the most heroic type of his noble profession. MacLure +compassed the precious arrival with observances till he was securely +seated in Drumsheugh's dog cart—a vehicle that lent itself to +history—with two full-sized plaids added to his equipment—Drumsheugh +and Hillocks had both been requisitioned—and MacLure wrapped another +plaid round a leather case, which was placed below the seat with such +reverence as might be given to the Queen's regalia. Peter attended their +departure full of interest, and as soon as they were in the fir woods +MacLure explained that it would be an eventful journey.</p> + +<p>"It's a richt in here, for the wind disna get at the snaw, but the +drifts are deep in the Glen, and th'ill be some engineerin' afore we get +tae oor destination."</p> + +<p>Four times they left the road and took their way over fields, twice they +forced a passage through a slap in a dyke, thrice they used gaps in the +paling which MacLure had made on his downward journey.</p> + + + +<a name="064"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/064.png"><img alt="064.jpg (58K)" src="images/064.jpg" height="369" width="473"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>"A' seleckit the road this mornin', an' a' ken the depth tae an inch; we +'ill get through this steadin' here tae the main road, but oor worst job +'ill be crossin' the Tochty.</p> + +<p>"Ye see the bridge hes been shaken wi' this winter's flood, and we +daurna venture on it, sae we hev tae ford, and the snaw's been +melting up Urtach way. There's nae doot the water's gey big, and it's +threatenin' tae rise, but we 'ill win through wi' a warstle.</p> + +<p>"It micht be safer tae lift the instruments oot o' reach o' the water; +wud ye mind haddin' them on yir knee till we're ower, an' keep firm in +yir seat in case we come on a stane in the bed o' the river."</p> + +<p>By this time they had come to the edge, and it was not a cheering sight. +The Tochty had spread out over the meadows, and while they waited they +could see it cover another two inches on the trunk of a tree. There are +summer floods, when the water is brown and flecked with foam, but this +was a winter flood, which is black and sullen, and runs in the centre +with a strong, fierce, silent current. Upon the opposite side +Hillocks stood to give directions by word and hand, as the ford was +on his land, and none knew the Tochty better in all its ways.</p> + + + +<a name="066"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/066.png"><img alt="066.jpg (159K)" src="images/066.jpg" height="745" width="479"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>They passed through the shallow water without mishap, save when the +wheel struck a hidden stone or fell suddenly into a rut; but when they +neared the body of the river MacLure halted, to give Jess a minute's +breathing.</p> + +<p>"It 'ill tak ye a' yir time, lass, an' a' wud raither be on yir back; +but ye never failed me yet, and a wumman's life is hangin' on the +crossin'."</p> + +<p>With the first plunge into the bed of the stream the water rose to the +axles, and then it crept up to the shafts, so that the surgeon could +feel it lapping in about his feet, while the dogcart began to quiver, +and it seemed as if it were to be carried away. Sir George was as brave +as most men, but he had never forded a Highland river in flood, and the +mass of black water racing past beneath, before, behind him, affected +his imagination and shook his nerves. He rose from his seat and ordered +MacLure to turn back, declaring that he would be condemned utterly and +eternally if he allowed himself to be drowned for any person.</p> + +<p>"Sit doon," thundered MacLure; "condemned ye will be suner or later gin +ye shirk yir duty, but through the water ye gang the day."</p> + +<p>Both men spoke much more strongly and shortly, but this is what they +intended to say, and it was MacLure that prevailed.</p> + +<p>Jess trailed her feet along the ground with cunning art, and held her +shoulder against the stream; MacLure leant forward in his seat, a rein +in each hand, and his eyes fixed on Hillocks, who was now standing up to +the waist in the water, shouting directions and cheering on horse and +driver.</p> + +<p>"Haud tae the richt, doctor; there's a hole yonder. Keep oot o't for ony +sake. </p> + + +<a name="069"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/069.png"><img alt="069.jpg (87K)" src="images/069.jpg" height="628" width="458"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + +<p>That's heap of speechless misery by the kitchen fire, and carried +him off to the barn, and spread some corn on the threshing floor and +thrust a flail into his hands.</p> + +<p>"Noo we've tae begin, an' we 'ill no be dune for an' oor, and ye've tae +lay on withoot stoppin' till a' come for ye, an' a'll shut the door tae +haud in the noise, an' keep yir dog beside ye, for there maunna be a +cheep aboot the hoose for Annie's sake."</p> + +<p>"A'll dae onything ye want me, but if—if—"</p> + +<p>"A'll come for ye, Tammas, gin there be danger; but what are ye feared +for wi' the Queen's ain surgeon here?"</p> + +<p>Fifty minutes did the flail rise and fall, save twice, when Tammas crept +to the door and listened, the dog lifting his head and whining.</p> + +<p>It seemed twelve hours instead of one when the door swung back, and +MacLure filled the doorway, preceded by a great burst of light, for the +sun had arisen on the snow.</p> + + +<a name="071"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/071.png"><img alt="071.jpg (100K)" src="images/071.jpg" height="648" width="504"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>His face was as tidings of great joy, and Elspeth told me that there was +nothing like it to be seen that afternoon for glory, save the sun itself +in the heavens.</p> + +<p>"A' never saw the marrow o't, Tammas, an' a'll never see the like again; +it's a' ower, man, withoot a hitch frae beginnin' tae end, and she's +fa'in' asleep as fine as ye like."</p> + +<p>"Dis he think Annie ... 'ill live?"</p> + +<p>"Of coorse he dis, and be aboot the hoose inside a month; that's the gud +o' bein' a clean-bluided, weel-livin'——"</p> + +<p>"Preserve ye, man, what's wrang wi' ye? it's a mercy a' keppit ye, or we +wud hev hed anither job for Sir George.</p> + +<p>"Ye're a richt noo; sit doon on the strae. A'll come back in a whilie, +an' ye i'll see Annie juist for a meenut, but ye maunna say a word." +Marget took him in and let him kneel by Annie's bedside.</p> + +<p>He said nothing then or afterwards, for speech came only once in his +lifetime to Tammas, but Annie whispered, "Ma ain dear man."</p> + +<p>When the doctor placed the precious bag beside Sir George in our +solitary first next morning, he laid a cheque beside it and was about to +leave.</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the great man. "Mrs. Macfayden and I were on the gossip +last night, and I know the whole story about you and your friend.</p> + +<p>"You have some right to call me a coward, but I'll never let you count +me a mean, miserly rascal," and the cheque with Drumsheugh's painful +writing fell in fifty pieces on the floor.</p> + + + +<a name="074"></a> +<br><br> +<center> +<a href="images/074.png"><img alt="074.jpg (107K)" src="images/074.jpg" height="729" width="486"></a> +</center> +<br><br> + + +<p>As the train began to move, a voice from the first called so that all +the station heard. "Give's another shake of your hand, MacLure; I'm +proud to have met you; you are an honor to our profession. Mind the +antiseptic dressings."</p> + +<p>It was market day, but only Jamie Soutar and Hillocks had ventured down.</p> + +<p>"Did ye hear yon, Hillocks? hoo dae ye feel? A'll no deny a'm lifted."</p> + +<p>Halfway to the Junction Hillocks had recovered, and began to grasp the +situation.</p> + +<p>"Tell's what he said. A' wud like to hae it exact for Drumsheugh."</p> + +<p>"Thae's the eedentical words, an' they're true; there's no a man in +Drumtochty disna ken that, except ane."</p> + +<p>"An' wha's thar, Jamie?"</p> + +<p>"It's Weelum MacLure himsel. Man, a've often girned that he sud fecht +awa for us a', and maybe dee before he kent that he hed githered mair +luve than ony man in the Glen.</p> + +<p>"'A'm prood tae hae met ye', says Sir George, an' him the greatest +doctor in the land. 'Yir an honor tae oor profession.'</p> + +<p>"Hillocks, a' wudna hae missed it for twenty notes," said James Soutar, +cynic-in-ordinary to the parish of Drumtochty.</p> + + + +<br><br> + + + +<center> +<table summary="" cellPadding=4 border=3> +<tr><td> + <a href="p1.htm">Previous Part</a> +</td><td> + <a href="9320-h.htm">Main Index</a> +</td><td> + <a href="p3.htm">Next Part</a> + </td></tr> +</table> +</center> + +</body> +</html> |