The Surgeon's Daughter

ongue, Billy B

l talking:

t a man, as I

e dyke and f

MINST

vulgar the sounding name of the Physic Garden. [Footnote: The Botanic Garden is so termed by the vulgar of Edinburgh.] Mr. Gray's pupils readily complied with his wishes, that they would take some care of this favourite spot, to which both contributed their labours, after which Hartl

the garden, when Dick Middlemas asked Hartley wh

tell you, Dick, it is a shabby low place this Middlemas of ours. In the smallest burg

us! How will canny Northumberland [throwing a true northern accent on the letter R] acquit himself? Methinks I see thee in thy pea-green

to be hail-fellow-well-met with these fine folks-I care as little for them as they do for me. But

ed Middlemas; "I don't think

er," answered Hartle

the same sarcastic tone. "I tell thee, Adam, I will bet you a bowl of punch, that Miss Gr

master, and I am obliged to him-I think I should act very scurvily, if

ther. Pray, saddle your pony, ride up to the gate of Louponheight Castle, and defy t

n, and take your defiances to your fine folks in your own n

clown like some folks, and should care little, if I saw it fit, to ta

ing patience: "you are one of themse

ancing on him in fury, his tauntin

ome by the worst; if you will break rude j

faction for this i

r. We have both spoken what would have been better left unsaid. I was in the wrong to say what I said to yo

ction which I demand, is that of a gent

t to treat a gunshot wound, before you think of inflicting one. Go, you are both very foolish boys, and I cannot take it kind of either of you to bring the name of my daughter into such disputes as these. Hark ye, lads, ye both owe me, I think, some portion of respect, and even of gratitude-it will be a poor re

after a moment's hesitation. There was nothing farther passed on the subject, but the lads never resumed the same sort of intimacy which had existed betwixt them in their earlier acquaintance. On the contrary, avoiding every connexion not absolut

more than most parents would have deemed entirely prudent. Nor was Nurse Jamieson,-her menial situation, and her excessive partiality for her foster-son, considered,-altogether such a matron as could afford her protection. Gideon, however, knew that his daughter possessed, in i

h the same degree of attention. This, however, was no easy matter; for Hartley became so retiring, cold, and formal, that it was impossible for her to sustain any prolonged intercourse with him; whereas Middle

ad not yet received an answer; nor did he presume to offer his own advice, until the pleasure of his grandfather should be known. Richard seemed to endure this suspense with more patience than the Doctor thought belonged naturally to his character. He asked no questions-stated no c

permitted to correspond with him in person, and promising to be guided in every particular by his will. The answer to this appeal was his own letter returned, w

low-apprentice. He found him in the little arbour, and could not omit observing, that Dick Middlemas, on his appearance, shoved into his bosom a small packet, as if

Mr. Middlemas," said Hartley;

"I was only scratching up the weeds which the late showe

himself. Richard imitated his example, and s

Gray"-said Hartley, and there stopped, like one

on has been satisfact

y great astonishment, asked me, whether, as he was now becoming old, I had any particular objection to continue in my present situation, bu

l assistant. The business may be worth L200 a-year, and an active assistant might go nigh to doubl

I can render myself agreeable, in the course of these two years, to Miss Menie Gray,

ise themselves under an affectation of indifference. "Well, Master Adam, I cannot but wish you joy of the patriarchal arrangement. You have served five years for a professional diploma-a sort of Leah, tha

there was a condition anne

with a half-suppressed sneer. "No great difficulty in that, I should think, for such a person as

ontrary, Mr. Middlemas," s

about the state of Miss Gray's inclinations?" said Middl

unities. Mr. Middlemas, I have long suspected that you have had the

s. You do yourself less, and me more, than justice; but the com

her father. I told her I was but too well convinced that at the present moment I did not possess that interest in her heart, which alone might entitle me to request her acquiescence in the views which her father's goodness held out to me; b

request. But what did the

well the kindliness, as she was pleased to call it, of my heart, to expose me to the protracted pain of an unrequited passion. She candidly informed me that she had been long engaged to you in secret-that you had exchange

e has been extremely candid indeed,

ou are ungrateful to her, if you are displeased at her making this declaration. She loves you as a woman lo

ly in return. But after all, you know, the secret was mine as well as hers, an

safe because it is in my keeping, I can assure you that such is my grateful sense of Miss Gray's goodness, in communicating, to save me pain,

how, it seems odd she should have chosen for a confidant one whom I have often thought a formidable rival; and yet I am so far from being displeased, that I do not know that the dear sensible girl could after all have made a better choice. It is time that the foolish coldness between us shou

hand, but without any of the buoyancy

y hours. But if, in the meanwhile, I can benefit you, by advice or otherwise, you ma

or Menie Gray's sake, if not for Dick Middlemas's, (plague on that vulgar tell-tale name,) will you

would retain you as his assistant upon the same terms which he proposed to me. You are the bette

ay has showed no great predil

e merit," said Hartley, dryly, "the preferenc

love her; otherwise, Adam, I am not a perso

early affection for you, until he thought he had remarked in you a decisive discontent with such limited prospects as his offer contained, and a desire to go abroad into the world, and push, as it is called, your fortune. He said, that although it was very probable that you might lo

ted. To say the truth, but for the beautiful Menie Gray, I should feel like a mill-horse, walking my daily round in this

to go with him as surgeon's mate. If I like the sea service, I will continue

ure down idle recollections?-India, where gold is won by steel; where a brave man cannot pitch his desire for fame and wealth so high, but that he may realize it, if he have fortune to his friend? Is

he accepted lover of Menie Gray, speak

ry certainty, a little of the extravagant and ideal value, which attached to it while the object of feverish hopes and aguish fears. But for all that, I cannot live without my sweet Menie. I would wed her to-morrow, with all my soul, without thinking a minute on the clog which so early a marriage would fasten

e a condition, I should be very sorry to do so. You are but twenty-one, and if such a period of probation was, in the Doct

iserable and precarious possibilities, to be shared with the old gentleman, sounds in the ears of one like me, who have the world for the winning, and a sword to cut my way through it, like something little better than a decent kind of beggary. Menie is in herself a gem-a diamond-I admit it. But then, one would not set such a precious jewel in lead or popper, but in pure gold; ay, and add a circlet of brilliants to set it off with. Be a good fellow, Adam, and undertake the setting my project in proper colours before the Doctor. I am sure, the wisest thing for him and Menie both, is to permit me

r to Dr. Gray or his daughter, it would be to break of all connexion with a man, who, however clever by nature, may soon show himself a fool, and however honestly brought up, may also, upon temptation, prove himself a villain.-You may lay aside the sneer, which is designed to be a sarcastic smile. I will not attempt to do this, because I am convinced that my advice wo

Adam Hartley, and I will confess to you"--But his words were uttered in a faint and hesitating

betwixt her and me? If old Moncada had done a grandfather's duty, and made suitable settlements on me, this plan of marrying the sweet girl, and settling here in her native place, might have done well enough. But to live the life of the poor drudge her father-to be at the command and call of every boor for twenty miles round!-why, the labours of a higgler, who travels scores of mi