'Never min' that.That's no muckle.Ye're welcome, doctor, to my twa airms for what ye hae dune for Robert an' that lang-leggit frien' o' his--the Lord forgie me--Mr.Ericson.But ye maun jist pay him what I canna mak for a day or twa, till 't jines again--to haud them gaein', ye ken.--It winna be muckle to you, doctor,' added Shargar, beseechingly.
'Trust me for that, Moray,' returned Dr.Anderson.'I owe you a good deal more than that.My brains might have been out by this time.'
'The Lord be praised!' said Shargar, making about his first profession of Christianity.'Robert 'ill think something o' me noo.'
During this conversation the coachman sat expecting some one to appear from the shop, and longing to pitch into the 'camstary'
horse, but not daring to lift his whip beyond its natural angle.No one came.All at once Shargar knew where he was.
'Guid be here! we're at Donal's door! Guid day to ye, doctor; an'
I'm muckle obleeged to ye.Maybe, gin ye war comin' oor gait, the morn, or the neist day, to see Maister Ericson, ye wad tie up my airm, for it gangs wallopin' aboot, an' that canna be guid for the stickin' o' 't thegither again.'
'My poor boy! you don't think I'm going to leave you here, do you?'
said the doctor, proceeding to open the carriage-door.
'But whaur's the hamper?' said Shargar, looking about him in dismay.
'The coachman has got it on the box,' answered the doctor.
'Eh! that'll never do.Gin thae rampaugin' brutes war to tak a start again, what wad come o' the bit basket? I maun get it doon direckly.'
'Sit still.I will get it down, and deliver it myself.' As he spoke the doctor got out.
'Tak care o' 't, sir; tak care o' 't.William Walker said there was a jar o' drained hinney i' the basket; an' the bairns wad miss 't sair gin 't war spult.'
'I will take good care of it,' responded the doctor.
He delivered the basket, returned to the carriage, and told the coachman to drive home.
'Whaur are ye takin' me till?' exclaimed Shargar.'Willie hasna payed me for the parcel.'
'Never mind Willie.I'll pay you,' said the doctor.
'But Robert wadna like me to tak siller whaur I did nae wark for 't,' objected Shargar.'He's some pernickety (precise)--Robert.But I'll jist say 'at ye garred me, doctor.Maybe that 'll saitisfee him.An' faith! I'm queer aboot my left fin here.'
'We'll soon set it all right,' said the doctor.
When they reached his house he led the way to his surgery, and there put the broken limb in splints.He then told Johnston to help the patient to bed.
'I maun gang hame,' objected Shargar.'What wad Robert think?'
'I will tell him all about it,' said the doctor.
'Yersel, sir?' stipulated Shargar.
'Yes, myself.'
'Afore nicht?'
'Directly,' answered the doctor, and Shargar yielded.
'But what will Robert say?' were his last words, as he fell asleep, appreciating, no doubt, the superiority of the bed to his usual lair upon the hearthrug.
Robert was delighted to hear how well Shargar had acquitted himself.
Followed a small consultation about him; for the accident had ripened the doctor's intentions concerning the outcast.
'As soon as his arm is sound again, he shall go to the grammar-school,' he said.
'An' the college?' asked Robert.
'I hope so,' answered the doctor.'Do you think he will do well? He has plenty of courage, at all events, and that is a fine thing.'
'Ow ay,' answered Robert; 'he's no ill aff for smeddum (spirit)--that is, gin it be for ony ither body.He wad never lift a han' for himsel'; an' that's what garred me tak till him sae muckle.He's a fine crater.He canna gang him lane, but he'll gang wi' onybody--and haud up wi' him.'
'What do you think him fit for, then?'
Now Robert had been building castles for Shargar out of the hopes which the doctor's friendliness had given him.Therefore he was ready with his answer.
'Gin ye cud ensure him no bein' made a general o', he wad mak a gran' sojer.Set's face foret, and say "quick mairch," an' he'll ca his bagonet throu auld Hornie.But lay nae consequences upo' him, for he cudna stan' unner them.'
Dr.Anderson laughed, but thought none the less, and went home to see how his patient was getting on.
