'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.
CHAPTER XIV. MYSIE'S FACE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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