"But it must not be imagined that no practice fell to his share, for the poor flocked to him in spite of the ill success that attended his efforts in the first year of his coming. In fact, Tomkins made great capital out of the death of a fever patient whom Mr Ross was called in to attend, when the young surgeon had told his wife that he was convinced that no human power could have saved the stricken one. However, people would talk and shake their heads, and say what a pity it was such an inexperienced person had been called in, _et cetera_; and it was not until the young surgeon had performed several clever cures in advice gratis cases that the poorer people favoured him with their patronage, giving him much trouble, few thanks, and seldom any pay. "`Look at that,' said John Ross one day, as two nurses passed the window in charge of a perambulator fitted with an awning, and containing a fine-looking boy of some twelve months old--`look at that,' he said bitterly. `Why, I should think what is spent upon that child in nurses and dress would be a comfortable income for us. It is enough to make any man envious to see how unequally money is distributed. There are those people, the Westerns, rolling in wealth, and without labour to gain it, while the more I fight and struggle, the worse off I am. What do they know of trouble? Hetty, my girl,' he cried passionately, `I wish I had never married you, to drag you down to this poverty!' "`Hush! oh, hush, darling!' sobbed Mrs Ross, the tears streaming down her cheeks. `Have we not been happy through it all, and have I ever seemed to mind? Be patient, and times will brighten; but please-- please--don't--speak--' Mrs Ross could say no more, for her sobs choked her utterance. Her husband's words had seemed to cut her to the heart, for of late he had grown more bitter and less hopeful. Instead of flying to his books for comfort, and studying hard, he had grown moody and peevish in spite of her loving attentions; and many a night while he slept had her pillow been wet with tears as she vainly tried to pierce the cloud of gloom that seemed to close them in on every side. "His wife's tears were not without effect, and the next moment John Ross was kissing them away, vowing that he would be hopeful and contented, fighting out the battle till the very last; for, as he said, the tide must turn some time. "`What a bear I am, darling,' he cried, `to mope and growl as I do, envying, hating, and maliciously regarding my neighbours because they make money and I don't. There, never mind! I'll make old Tomkins want me for partner yet, and--there! if you haven't sent out the breakfast things again, and I'm as hungry as a hunter.' "It was of no use, John Ross would not own to its being pretence. He insisted upon the breakfast things being brought back, and ate bread-and-butter, and drank weak tea, insisting at the same time upon his wife partaking of the piece of toast he made for her himself.