Part 29 (1/2)

”Ay, zur,” Jimmie rattled, eagerly. ”We're fair disappointed that he's not----”

”Ha!” the doctor interrupted. ”I see. Hum! Well, now!” And having thus incoherently exclaimed for a little, the light in his eyes growing merrier all the time, he most unaccountably worked himself into a great rage: whereby I knew that the little Jutts were in some way to be mightily amused. ”The lazy rascal!” he shouted, jumping out of his chair, and beginning to stamp the room, frowning terribly. ”The fat, idle, blundering dunderhead! Did they send you that message? Did they, now? Tell me, did they? Give me that letter!” He s.n.a.t.c.hed the letter from Martha's lap. ”Sammy,” he demanded, ”where did this letter come from?”

”Narth Pole, zur!”

Jonas Jutt blushed--and Matilda threw her ap.r.o.n over her head to hide her confusion.

”And _how_ did it come?”

”Out o' the stove, zur.”

The doctor opened the letter, and paused to slap it angrily, from time to time, as he read it.

_North poll_

DEER MARTHA

few lines is to let you know on acounts of havin broke me leg cotchin the deer Im sory im in a stat of helth not bein able so as to be out in hevy wether. hopin you is all wel as it leves me yrs respectful SANDY CLAWS

Fish was poor and it would not be much this yere anyways. tel little Sammy

”Ha!” shouted the doctor, as he crushed the letter to a little ball and flung it under the table. ”Ha! That's the kind of thing that happens when one's away from home. There you have it! Discipline gone to the dogs. System gone to the dogs. Everything gone to the dogs. Now, what do you think of that?”

He scowled, and gritted his teeth, and puffed, and said ”Ha!” in a fas.h.i.+on so threatening that one must needs have fled the room had there not been a curiously rea.s.suring twinkle in his eyes.

”What do you think of that?” he repeated, fiercely, at last. ”A countermanded order! I'll attend to _him_!” he burst out. ”I'll fix that fellow! The lazy dunderhead, I'll soon fix him! Give me pen and ink.

Where's the paper? Never mind. I've some in my pack. One moment, and I'll----”

He rushed to the shed, to the great surprise and alarm of the little Jutts, and loudly called back for a candle, which Skipper Jonas carried to him; and when he had been gone a long time, he returned with a letter in his hand, still e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.n.g. in a great rage.

”See that?” said he to the three little Jutts. ”Well, _that's_ for Santa Claus's clerk. That'll fix _him_. That'll blister the stupid fellow.”

”Please, zur!” whispered Martha Jutt.

”Well?” snapped the doctor, stopping short in a rush to the stove.

”Please, zur,” said Martha, taking courage, and laying a timid hand on his arm. ”Sure, I don't know what 'tis all about. I don't know what blunder he've made. But I'm thinkin', zur, you'll be sorry if you acts in haste. 'Tis wise t' count a hundred. Don't be too hard on un, zur.

'Tis like the blunder may be mended. 'Tis like he'll do better next time. Don't be hard----”

”_Hard_ on him?” the doctor interrupted. ”Hard on _him_! Hard on that----”

”Ay, zur,” she pleaded, looking fearlessly up. ”Won't you count a hundred?”

”Count it,” said he, grimly.

Martha counted. I observed that the numbers fell slower--and yet more slowly--from her lips, until (and she was keenly on the watch) a gentler look overspread the doctor's face; and then she rattled them off, as though she feared he might change his mind once more.

”----an' a hundred!” she concluded, breathless.

”Well,” the doctor drawled, rubbing his nose, ”I'll modify it,”