Part 13 (2/2)

But I resisted stoutly; though I longed to vindicate my mother's affection, yet I could not face her. I entreated to be taken to the station-house; threatened, in my desperation, to break the bar gla.s.ses, which, like Doll Tearsheet's abuse, only elicited from the policeman a solemn ”Very well”; and under the unwonted excitement of the brandy, struggled so fiercely, and talked so incoherently, that the medical students interfered.

”We shall have this fellow in phrenitis, or laryngitis, or dothenenteritis, or some other itis, before long, if he's aggravated.”

”And whichever it is, it'll kill him. He has no more stamina left than a yard of pump water.”

”I should consider him chargeable to the parish,” suggested the bar-keeper.

”Exactually so, my Solomon of licensed victuallers. Get a workhouse order for him, Costello.”

”And I should consider, also, sir,” said the licensed victualler, with increased importance, ”having been a guardian myself, and knowing the hact, as the parish couldn't refuse, because they're in power to recover all hexpenses out of his mother.”

”To be sure; it's all the unnatural old witch's fault.”

”No, it is not,” said I, faintly.

”Wait till your opinion's asked, young'un. Go kick up the authorities, policeman.”

”Now, I'll just tell you how that'll work, gemmen,” answered the policeman, solemnly. ”I goes to the overseer--werry good sort o' man--but he's in bed.

I knocks for half an hour. He puts his nightcap out o' windy, and sends me to the relieving-officer. Werry good sort o' man he too; but he's in bed.

I knocks for another half-hour. He puts his nightcap out o' windy--sends me to the medical officer for a certificate. Medical officer's gone to a midwifery case. I hunts him for an hour or so. He's got hold of a babby with three heads, or summat else; and two more women a-calling out for him like blazes. 'He'll come to-morrow morning.' Now, I just axes your opinion of that there most procrastinationest go.”

The big student, having cursed the parochial authorities in general, offered to pay for my night's lodging at the public-house. The good man of the house demurred at first, but relented on being reminded of the value of a medical student's custom: whereon, without more ado, two of the rough diamonds took me between them, carried me upstairs, undressed me, and put me to bed, as tenderly as if they had been women.

”He'll have the tantrums before morning, I'm afraid,” said one.

”Very likely to turn to typhus,” said the other.

”Well, I suppose--it's a horrid bore, but

”What must be must; man is but dust, If you can't get crumb, you must just eat crust.

”Send me up a go of hot with, and I'll sit up with him till he's asleep, dead, or better.”

”Well, then, I'll stay too; we may just as well make a night of it here as well as anywhere else.”

And he pulled a short black pipe out of his pocket, and sat down to meditate with his feet on the hobs of the empty grate; the other man went down for the liquor; while I, between the brandy and exhaustion, fell fast asleep, and never stirred till I woke the next morning with a racking headache, and saw the big student standing by my bedside, having, as I afterwards heard, sat by me till four in the morning.

”Hallo, young'un, come to your senses? Headache, eh? Slightly comato-c.r.a.pulose? We'll give you some soda and salvolatile, and I'll pay for your breakfast.”

And so he did, and when he was joined by his companions on their way to St.

George's, they were very anxious, having heard my story, to force a few s.h.i.+llings on me ”for luck,” which, I need not say, I peremptorily refused, a.s.suring them that I could and would get my own living, and never take a farthing from any man.

”That's a plucky dog, though he's a tailor,” I heard them say, as, after overwhelming them with thanks, and vowing, amid shouts of laughter, to repay them every farthing I had cost them, I took my way, sick and stunned, towards my dear old Sandy Mackaye's street.

Rough diamonds indeed! I have never met you again, but I have not forgotten you. Your early life may be a coa.r.s.e, too often a profligate one--but you know the people, and the people know you: and your tenderness and care, bestowed without hope of repayment, cheers daily many a poor soul in hospital wards and fever-cellars--to meet its reward some day at the people's hands. You belong to us at heart, as the Paris barricades can tell. Alas! for the society which stifles in after-life too many of your better feelings, by making you mere flunkeys and parasites, dependent for your livelihood on the caprices and luxuries of the rich.

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