Part 11 (1/2)
”Yes; accidents will happen, you know, to the most careful among us, Mrs Jones,” said the little doctor, with a smile, as he drew on his gloves. ”Good evening. Take care of your patient now; I'm much interested in her case--because of the young doctor who visits her sometimes.”
”Dr Mellon?” exclaimed the woman.
”Yes. You know him?”
”Know him! I should think I do! He has great consideration for the poor. Ah! he _is_ a gentleman, is Mr Mellon!”
”He is more than a gentleman, Mrs Jones,” said the little doctor with a kindly nod, as he turned and hurried away.
It may perhaps seem to savour of vanity and egotism my recording this conversation, but I do it chiefly for the purpose of showing how much of hearty grat.i.tude there is for mere trifles among the poor, for the woman who was thus complimentary to me never received a farthing of money from my hands, and I am not aware of having ever taken any notice of her, except now and then wis.h.i.+ng her a respectful good-evening, and making a few inquiries as to her health.
That night Dr McTougall came to me, on returning from his rounds, to report upon my district. I was in bed at the time, and suffering considerable pain from my bruised and swollen limb. Dumps was lying at my feet--dried, refreshed, and none the worse for his adventures. I may mention that I occupied a comfortable room in the house of the ”City man,” who insisted on my staying with him until I should be quite able to walk to my lodgings. As Dr McTougall had taken my district, a brief note to Mrs Miff, my landlady, relieved my mind of all anxieties, professional and domestic, so that my doggie and I could enjoy ourselves as well as the swollen leg would permit.
”My dear young friend,” said the little doctor, as he entered, ”your patients are all going on admirably, and as I mean to send my a.s.sistant to them regularly, you may make your mind quite easy. I've seen your old woman too, and she is charming. I don't wonder you lost your heart to her. Your young _protege_, however, was absent--the scamp!--but he had provided a good nurse to take his place in the person of Mrs Jones.”
”I know her--well,” said I; ”she is a capital nurse. Little Slidder has, I am told, been here in your absence, but unfortunately the maid who opened the door to him would not let him see me, as I happened to be asleep at the time. However, he'll be sure to call again. But you have not told me yet how Miss Blythe is.”
”Well, I've not had time to tell you,” replied the doctor, with a smile.
”I'm sorry to say she is rather feverish; the excitement and exposure to the night air were a severe trial to her, for although she is naturally strong, it is not long since she recovered from a severe illness. Nothing, however, surprises me so much as the way in which my dear wife has come through it all. It seems to have given her quite a turn in the right direction. Why, she used to be as timid as a mouse!
Now she scoffs at burglars. After what occurred last night she says she will fear nothing under the sun. Isn't it odd? As for the children, I'm afraid the event has roused all that is wild and savage in their natures! They were kicking up a horrible s.h.i.+ndy when I pa.s.sed the dining-room--the hospital, as Dobson calls it--so I opened the door and peeped in. There they were, all standing up on their beds, shouting `Fire! fire! p'leece! p'leece!--engines! escapes! Come qui-i-i-ck!'
”`Silence!' I shouted.
”`Oh, papa!' they screamed, in delight, `what _do_ you think we've had for supper?'
”`Well, what?'
”`Pudding and jam-pudding and jam--nearly _all_ jam!'
”Then they burst again into a chorus of yells for engines and fire-escapes, while little Dolly's voice rang high above the rest `Pudding and dam!--_all_ dam!--p'leece! p'leece! fire and feeves!' as I shut the door.
”But now, a word in your ear before I leave you for the night. Perhaps it may not surprise you to be told that I have an extensive practice.
After getting into a new house, which I must do immediately, I shall want an a.s.sistant, who may in course of time, perhaps, become a partner.
D'you understand? Are you open to a proposal?”
”My dear sir,” said I, ”your kindness is very great, but you know that I am not yet--”
”Yes, yes, I know all about that. I merely wish to inject an idea into your brain, and leave it there to fructify. Go to sleep now, my dear young fellow, and let me wish you agreeable dreams.”
With a warm squeeze of the hand, and a pleasant nod, my new friend said good-night, and left me to my meditations.
CHAPTER EIGHT.
LITTLE SLIDDER RESISTS TEMPTATION SUCCESSFULLY, AND I BECOME ENSLAVED.
”Pompey,” said I, one afternoon, while reclining on the sofa in Dobson's drawing-room, my leg being not yet sufficiently restored to admit of my going out--”Pompey, I've got news for you.”
To my surprise my doggie would not answer to that name at all when I used it, though he did so when it was used by Miss Blythe.
”Dumps!” I said, in a somewhat injured tone.