"Ca' canny," he retorted. "The women of this place are as overdriven as the men, from the day they have the strength to turn a pirn-wheel to the day they crawl over their bed-board for the last time, but never yet have I said, 'I need one of you to sit up all night wi' an unweel body,' but what there were half a dozen willing to do it. They are a grand race, sir, and will remain so till they find it out themselves." "But of what use could a girl of twelve or fourteen be to them?" "Use!" McQueen cried. "Man, she has been simply a treasure, and but for one thing I would believe it was less a morbid mind than a sort of divine instinct for nursing that took her to Ballingall's bedside. The women do their best in a rough and ready way; but, sir, it cowed to see that lassie easying a pillow for Ballingall's head, or changing a sheet without letting in the air, or getting a poultice on his back without disturbing the one on his chest. I had just to let her see how to do these things once, and after that Ballingall complained if any other soul touched him." "Ah," said McLean, "then perhaps I was uncharitable, and the nurse's instinct is the true explanation." "No, you're wrong again, though I might have been taken in as well as you but for the one thing I spoke of. Three days ago Ballingall had a ghost of a chance of pulling through, I thought, and I told the lassie that if he did, the credit would be mainly hers. You'll scarcely believe it, but, upon my word, she looked disappointed rather than pleased, and she said to me, quite reproachfully, 'You told me he was sure to die!' What do you make of that?" "It sounds unnatural." "It does, and so does what followed. Do you know what straiking is?" "Arraying the corpse for the coffin, laying it out, in short, is it not?" "Ay, ay. Well, it appears that Grizel had prigged with the women to let her be present at Ballingall's straiking, and they had refused." "I should think so," exclaimed McQueen, with a shudder. "But that's not all. She came to me in her difficulty, and said that if I didna promise her this privilege she would nurse Ballingall no more." "Ugh! That shows at least that pity for him had not influenced her." "No, she cared not a doit for him. I question if she's the kind that could care for anyone. It's plain by her thrawn look when you speak to her about her mother that she has no affection even for her. However, there she was, prepared to leave Ballingall to his fate if I did not grant her request, and I had to yield to her." "You promised?" "I did, sore against the grain, but I accept the responsibility. You are pained, but you don't know what a good nurse means to a doctor." "Well?" "Well, he died after all, and the straiking is going on now. You saw her go in." "I think you could have been excused for breaking your word and turning her out."