Part 38 (1/2)
Armitage should be guilty of so gross a violation of propriety, while Dr. Vincent drew near and in rapid undertone related the cause of the disturbance. Dr. Arnold at first frowned, and then as the story progressed nodded approvingly.
”Quite right, quite right; he should not have touched the stimulus under any circ.u.mstances whatever. Dr. Armitage, I am persuaded that even you would have frowned on the idea had you watched this case through in all its details.”
Dr. Armitage did not so much as vouchsafe him a glance, but kept his angry eyes still fixed on Mr. Hastings as he said:
”I repeat my statement. This matter must be decided at once. You have but to choose between us.”
Now this really placed Mr. Hastings in an extremely awkward dilemma. Dr.
Armitage was not only his family physician, but the two had had all sorts of business dealings together of which only they two knew the nature; but then, on the other hand, Mr. Hastings believed that Dr.
Arnold had saved the life of his son. He knew that life was in a very feeble, dangerous state even now, and he actually feared that Dr.
Armitage occasionally drank brandy enough to bewilder his brain, and at such times perhaps was hardly to be trusted, and yet he could not dismiss him.
”Really,” he stammered, ”I--we--this is a very disagreeable matter. I regret exceedingly--” And just here relief came to him from an unexpected quarter. Pliny roused himself to speak with something of his old spirit.
”You two gentlemen seem to ignore my existence or overlook it somewhat.
I believe I am the unfortunate individual who requires the service of a physician. Dr. Armitage, I have no doubt that my father will continue to look upon you as his guardian angel, physically speaking; but as for me, I'm inclined to continue at present under charge of the pilot who has steered me safely thus far.”
”That being the case,” said Dr. Arnold, briskly, ”I will resume command at once, and order every single one of you from the room, except you, Dr. Vincent, if you have time to remain and administer an anodyne, and you, young man, must go directly back to bed.”
Mr. Hastings promptly opened a side door and invited Dr. Armitage to a few moments' private conversation, and Theodore departed, jubilant over the turn affairs had taken, and fully determined that Dr. Vincent should be _his_ family physician.
CHAPTER XXV.
STEPS UPWARD.
”Can you take another boarder, grandma?”
This was the question with which Theodore startled the dear old lady, while she and Winny still lingered with him at the breakfast table. Jim had eaten in haste, and hurried away to his daily-increasing business.
But Theodore had seemed lost in thought, and for some little time had occupied himself with trying to balance his spoon on the edge of his cup, instead of eating his breakfast. At last he let the spoon pitch into the cup with a decisive click, and asked the aforesaid question.
Grandma McPherson, looking a little older, it is true, than on the blessed day in which ”Tode Mall” first sought her out, but still having the look of a wonderfully well preserved old lady, in an immaculate cap frill, a trifle finer than in the days of yore, and a neat black dress, presided still at the head of her table. She dropped her knife, at Theodore's question, and gave vent to her old-time exclamation: ”Deary me, what notion has the dear boy got now?”
”He has an Inebriate Asylum in view, mother, and wants to engage you for physician, and your daughter for matron.”
This was Winny's grave explanation. Theodore did not even smile. She had unwittingly touched too near the subject of his thoughts.
”Don't tease the boy, Winny dear,” said the little gentle mother; then she turned her kind, interested eyes on him, and waited for his explanation.
”The fact is, I want to get Pliny away from home,” he said, anxiously.
”You have no idea of the temptations that constantly beset him there. I don't think it is possible for him to sit down to his father's table at any time without being beset by what the poor fellow calls his imps.”
”What a world it is, to be sure,” sighed Grandma McPherson, ”when a boy's worst enemy is his own father. Well, deary, I'm ready to help you fight the old serpent to the very last, and so I am sure is Winny. What is your plan?”
”He thinks of coming into the store--he can have poor Winter's place for the present. At least, Mr. Stephens has made him that offer. He seems to feel the necessity of doing something, if for no other purpose than to use up his time.”
Winny glanced up quickly. ”Is that all his splendid collegiate education is going to amount to?” she asked, wonderingly, and possibly with a little touch of scorn in her voice. ”A clerk in Mr. Stephens' store! I thought he was going to study law?”
”He has used up his brain-power too thoroughly to have any hope of carrying out these plans--at least at present,” answered Theodore, sadly. ”But, after all, I think we may consider his life not _quite_ a failure, if he should become such a man as Mr. Stephens. Well, grandma, my plan is, that he could room with me, and so make you no extra work in that direction, and, if you _could_ manage the other part, I believe it would be a blessed thing for Pliny.”