The Surgeon's Daughter

n, skill'd our

armies to the

'S H

ns more freely. One assistant was binding up a vein, from which a considerable quantity of blood had been taken; another, who had just washed the face of the patient, was holding aromatic vinegar to his nostrils. As he began

s his old companion; he remembered the tone of superiority which he used to assume over him, and thus to lie stretched at his feet, and in a manner at his mercy, aggravated his distress, by the feelings of the dying chieftain, "Earl Percy sees my fall." This was, however, too unreasonable an emotion to

meantime, take food and physic from none but my servant, who you see holds the sponge in his han

mas-"Let me remove this temptati

his under waistcoat, and p

"be my heir. You dese

nted by the hoarse v

ll you carry thro

s an alarming swoon. You must have him carried into

tell you there is a man we both know, that has a thousa

a lad as the Company have among their recruits. It is my business to save him for their service, and if he dies by your neglecting

ing about what he may have said in his light-headed fits? My eyes! if you listen to what feverish patients say when the

trouble yourself with mine. I suppose, as I have a commission in the service, and have besides a regular diploma as a phys

of again consulting the pulse, he pressed the patient's hand, a

Scotch roost; but I would know well enough how to fetch the youngster off the

ers. Although sensible that he had no illness, save that weakness which succeeds violent agitation, he deemed it wisest to suffer himself still to be treated as a patient, in consideration that he should thus remain under his comrade's superintende

y proceeded in doing him such service as was in his power, without any other object than the discharge of his own duty as a ma

of the climate, and of the species of banishment which the engagement implied; and doubted also how far the engagements of the Company might be faithfully observed towards them, when they were removed from the protection of the British laws. For these and other reasons, the military service of the King was preferred, and that of the Company could only procure the worst recruits, although their zealous agents scrupled not to employ the worst means. Indeed the practice of kidnapping, or crimping, as it is technically called, was at that time general, whether for

gst them, and speedily crowded with patients the military hospital, of which Mr. Seelencooper, himself an old and experienced crimp and kidnapper, had obtained the superintendence. Irregularities began to take place also among the soldiers who re

ervants, amongst whom was Hartley, whose qualifications had been amply certified by a medical board, before w

ittle into society, but seemed to live entirely for their infant family, those in number being three, two boys and a girl. Although he had retired from the service, he willingly undertook the temporary charge committed to him, and taking a house at a considerable distance from the town of Ryde, he proceeded to enrol the troops into separate bodies, appoint officers of capacity to each, and by

s you shall have every thing, to a penny or a pin's head, that you are justly entitled to." He went to work without fear or favour, reported many abuses to the Board of Directors, h

tal in person. Public report industriously imputed this to fear of infection. Such was certainly the motive; though it was not fear for his own safety that influenced General Witherington, but he dreaded lest he should carry the inf

, had postponed inoculation, which was then scarcely come into general use. The infection caught like a quick-match, and ran like wildfire through all those in the family who had not previously had the disease. One of the General's children, the second boy, died, and two of the Ayas, or black female servants, had the same fate. The hearts of th

f, informed him one morning that there was a young man from the same county among the hospital doctors, who had publicly blam

ce himself into business by bold assertions. Doctor Tou

r's impatience, "did they not let my sweet Reuben die? What avai

then turning back again to his master. "He is a very decent young man, who, I am sure, nev

e," said the General; "let the

to confine him to heated rooms, beds loaded with blankets, and spiced wine, when Nature called for cold water and fresh air. A different mode of treatment had of

with the most serious attention. So did his lady, her streaming eyes turning from Hartley to her husband, as if to watch what impression the arguments of the former were making upon the latter. General Witherington was

eral Witherington. We shall at least give our darlings the comf

tley, "seems plausible; but still it is only hypothesis. What can yo

ndum-book of medical cases which I have witnessed. It contains

others?" said

ey; "we can as yet but partially di

thousand gold mohrs were yours in case my children live

," answered Ha

n your reputation the re

ld warrant my using those means, which, with God's bles

d sensible, as well as bo

inue a mode of treatment which subjected the patients to the greatest pain and privation, and had alre

s cried out murder. Doctors Tourniquet and Lancelot retired in disgust, menacing something like a general pestilence, in vengeance of what they termed

tains over the parents of the children whom he has saved from the grave, and especially before the cure is actually completed. He resolved to use this influence in be

the picture of Menie Gray, plainly set, and the ring, with brilliants, which Doctor Gray had given to Richard, as his mother's last gift. The first of these tokens e

to the sick apartment, and then carried to their parents the delightful

the tear from the eye of the despairing mother. And yet-alas! alas! still it must flow when I think of

u out of three. It is far from certain, that the treatment I have used towards the convalescents would ha

spirit as well as the sick in body. But it is time we settle our wager. You betted your reputation, which remains with you, increase

ravagance, both in giving and accepting; and I must not hazard the newly acquired reputation with which you flatter me, by giving room to have it said, that I fleeced the parents, when their feelings were all afloat with anxiety for their

tantly receiving back a part of the contents of the pocketbook, "it is bec

"it was upon your interest that I

h in the same breath, to assure hi

ects a point on which I have heard say, that your Exce

t-enlist over-night, and repent next morning. If I am to dismiss all those who pretend to have been trepanned, we should have few volunteers remain b

ase. The party has been ro

r, depend upon it, the fellow has gulled you. Bless my heart, would a m

y. "He was persuaded by the rogue whom he

udence. He will certainly find his way to the gallows at last. Still this story of the thousand pounds seems

under the same excellent master; and when he came of age, not liking the profession which he had studie

in our well-ordered hospita

think, to cure him of any complaint, but to give him the opp

o into the world with such a companion and guide as Tom Hillary, and such a sum as a thousand pounds in his pocket. His parent

y hard-hearted, or careless parents," sa

d, unwilling, and almost unknown hand, dealt him out his portion when he came of lawful age, and

milar impulse, her looks were turned upon him. They exchanged a momentary glance

ady, addressing herself, in a faltering voice

ith Mr. Gideon Gray of the to

repeated the lady

her head, and the instant that Mrs. Witherington began to recover, he whis

h she had begun to frame,

essing-room, my love," said h

f hanging upon her husband, half dragging herself on by her own efforts, had nearly re

s is no case for a stranger's interference

for the first time, to give credit to public report, which assigned to that gentleman, with several good qualities, the character of a very proud and haughty man. Hitherto

addressed Hartley in his usual tone of politeness, though apparently s

id, "and will be glad to see you bef

ley

he can collect her ideas, and during such intervals-to speak very confidentially to you, my dear Doctor Hartley-she speaks sometimes about imaginary events which have never happened, and so

egree of light-headedness was oft

ng man-this friend of yours-this Richa

ered Hartley; "but your Exce

u said something about Middlemas

name of the tow

ccupied at the moment by my anxiety about my wife. But this Middl

es like other young men; but his conduct has, so far as I know, been respect

ppy for him to have had a friend like you. But I suppose you studi

Hartley; "and has a ver

n dark or fair?"

rtley,-"darker, if I may use the

black ouzel, indeed!-Does

French tole

e cannot fen

judge; but Richard is reckoned

y learned, perfectly well-bred, not unreasonably wild. All this comes too high for the s

llency is

know Mrs. Witherington's fears of infection; but to-morrow find out your friend. Winter shall see him equipped with every thing needful. Tom Hillary shall repay advances, you know; and he must be off with the

he young man to pay his respec

nd take horses to fetch him hither. But he must have been out of the Hospital for a day or two; so the sooner you can set him at liberty the better. In the meantime,

nterested him so much, that he resolved upon trying a little experiment, in which he thought there could be no great harm. He placed on his finger the remarkable ring intrusted to his care by Richard Middlemas, and endeavoured to make it conspicuous in approaching Mrs. Witherington; taking care, however, that this occurred during her husband's absence. Her eyes had no sooner caught a sight of the gem, than they became riveted to it, and she begged a n

Hospital, and transferred to his comrade's lodgings in the town of Ryde, of which Hartley himself was a rare inmate; the anxie

ding himself at once emancipated from his late dreadful difficulties, and placed under the protection of a man of such importance as the General, obeyed implicitly the hints transmitted to him by Hartley, and enforced by Winter, and abstained from going