"With the obedience of a servant, Mr Western hurried from the room, and in a few minutes more the sound of hoofs was heard upon the drive, as he galloped off himself to fetch the medicine. "In less than half an hour Mr Western was back, to find that the poor child had shown further signs of returning animation; the horrible convulsed look had left its countenance; its breathing was more regular, and already, with tears of gratitude, the mother was whispering her thanks. But Mr Ross only shook his head, saying that the danger had been staved off for awhile, but that it was still imminent. "Then taking the medicine from its bearer, he tasted, nodded his head in token of satisfaction, and with his own hands administered a small portion. "`Now, Mr Western,' he then said, fanning the child's head furiously the while he spoke, `we have done all we can do for the present, the rest must follow, and all depends upon good nursing. With your lady's consent, then, we will divide that between us; but I feel it to be my duty to tell you that the child is in very, very great danger, and likely to be for some time. What we have to do now, is to try and make up for the waste of nature that has already taken place.' "Then followed instructions for preparing the juice of meat, arrowroot, and that an ample supply of brandy should be at hand; when, just as Mr Ross was in the act of administering a little in the arrowroot, the door opened, and in walked the great practitioner, expressing great astonishment at seeing his fellow professional there. "`You here, sir?' he exclaimed. `This seems to be a most astounding breach of etiquette. Perhaps you will step with me into the next room.' "`Mr Tomkins!' exclaimed the father angrily, `I entrusted the life of my sick child in your hands. You neglected that trust--whether from ignorance or carelessness I will not say--' "`Oh, indeed!' blustered the surgeon loudly, `I can see through the trick; charlatans and pretenders are always waiting to seize their opportunity; and--good heavens!' he ejaculated as if in horror--`a dessert spoonful of strong brandy to a tender child like that.' "Mr Ross turned upon him fiercely, but recollected himself directly after, and kneeling down by his little patient, he proceeded to pour the diluted spirit, drop by drop, between the parted lips, watching eagerly the effect; every tiny drop that trickled down seeming to brighten the eye, and give new life; even as when the effect passed off, the eye grew dim, and that life seemed slowly sinking away. "The old surgeon made some further remark, but Mr Western sternly ordered him to leave the room, when Mr Ross rose from his knees.