Christian fiction; Man-woman relationships -- Fiction; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Hubert Arling came forward to Bergan's side. "I can settle the
question for you," said he. "Congratulate her, and scold us. We
brought her down, chair and all; she did not touch foot to the floor in
the transit."
"Then I will save my scolding until it is needed. It seems little less
than miraculous to see you here," he went on, turning to Mrs. Arling,
"when I think how things seemed to be going, a few weeks ago. It has
been a hard pull, and a long one."
"And a strong one, and a pull altogether," added Hubert Arling,
merrily, by way of arresting the tears that he saw starting into his
sisters' eyes.
"The strong pull," remarked Doctor Trubie, "came from my medical
brother, down South."
"You underrate yourself," replied Mr. Arling. "Of what avail would
Doctor Remy's suggestions have been, without your indefatigable
vigilance, and your professional skill and knowledge to carry them out?"
"That is to say," returned Doctor Trubie, "that a good
commander-in-chief can do nothing without good generals. At all
events, Doctor Remy is a wonderfully talented fellow. He seems to keep
not only abreast of medical science, but in advance of it. That very
suggestion of his, which proved most valuable to us, was mentioned in
my last medical review, as the latest discovery at Paris. There is
something about his bold, yet scientific mode of reasoning which
reminds me strangely of an old fellow-student. But Doctor Remy, I
hope, is a better fellow than _he_ was. By the way," he added, turning
to Bergan, "I came near forgetting that I have brought you a letter
from him, as I judge from the handwriting."
Bergan tore open the letter, and with an apologetic bow to the company,
began eagerly to read it. Doctor Trubie seated himself by the table,
picked up the rejected envelope, and gave it a critical examination.
"That's what I call a good hand," said he, "a round, clear, energetic
hand, that neither tries your eyesight, nor rouses your distrust.
There is no crookedness nor meanness in it; yet there is plenty of
character; one can see, at a glance, that the writer is bold and
sagacious as well as profound, a man of action as well as a man of
science."
Bergan had finished the letter, which was short; and he now looked up
with a much amused face. "I ought to tell you," said he, "that Doctor
Remy possesses the rare accomplishment of being able to write with
either hand; he uses the right or the left, at pleasure. But the two
handwritings are entirely distinct. That address was written with his
left hand, and so, I remember, were the suggestions and prescriptions
that I handed over to you. But this letter was written with his right
hand; see what you can make of it," and Bergan pushed the open sheet
across the table.
The change in Doctor Trubie's face was startling. "This!" he
exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement, "who did you say wrote
this?"
"Doctor Remy, the same man who wrote that address."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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