One Of Them. Lever Charles James

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СКАЧАТЬ is no more aggressive spirit than that of the man who, with the full consciousness of great powers, sees himself destined to fill some humble and insignificant station, well knowing the while the inferiority of those who have conquered the high places in life. Of all the disqualifying elements of his own character, his unsteadiness, his want of thrift, perseverance, or conduct, his deficiency in tact or due courtesy, his stubborn indifference to others, – of all these he will take no account as he whispers to his heart,

      “I passed that fellow at school! – I beat this one at college! – how often have I helped yonder celebrity with his theme! – how many times have I written his exercise for that great dignitary!” Oh, what a deep well of bitterness lies in the nature of one so tried and tortured, and how cruel is the war that he at last wages with the world, and, worse again, with his own heart!

      Scarcely noticing the salutations of the country people, as they touched their hats to him on the road, or the more familiar addresses of the better-to-do farmers as they passed, Layton strode onwards to the little village where his dispensary stood.

      “Yer unco late, docther, this morning,” said one, in that rebukeful tone the northern Irishman never scruples to employ when he thinks he has just cause of complaint.

      “It’s na the way to heal folk to keep them waitin’ twa hours at a closed door,” said another.

      “I’se warrant he’s gleb eneuch to call for his siller when it’s due to him,” said a third.

      “My gran’mither is just gane hame; she would na bide any longer for yer comin’,” said a pert-looking girl, with a saucy toss of her head.

      “It’s na honest to take people’s money and gie naething for it,” said an old white-haired man on crutches; “and I ‘ll just bring it before the board.”

      Layton turned an angry look over the crowd, but never uttered a word. Pride alone would have prevented him from answering them, had he not the deeper motive that in his conflict with himself he took little heed of what they said.

      “Where’s the key, Sandy?” cried he, impatiently, to an old cripple who assisted him in the common work of the dispensary.

      The man came close and whispered something secretly in his ear.

      “And carried the key away, do you say?” asked Layton, eagerly.

      “Just so, sir. There was anither wi’ him, – a stranger, – and he was mair angry than his rev’rance, and said, ‘What can ye expec’? Is it like that a man o’ his habits could be entrusted with such a charge as this?”

      “And Dr. Millar – what did he reply?”

      “Na much; he just shook his head this way, and muttered, ‘I hoped for better, – I hoped for better!’ I dinna think they ‘d have taken away the key, but that old Jonas Graham kem up at the time, and said, ‘It’s mair than a month since we seen him’ – yourself he meant – ‘down here, and them as has the strength for it would rather gae all the gait to Coleraine than tak their chance o’ him.’ For a’ that,” said Sandy, “I opened the dispensary door, and was sarvin’ out salts and the like, when the stranger said, ‘Is it to a cretur like that the people are to trust their health? Just turn the key in the door, Millar, and you’ll certainly save some one from being poisoned this morning.’ And so he did, and here we are.” And poor Sandy turned a rueful look on the surrounders as he finished.

      “I can’t cure you as kings used to cure the evil, long ago, by royal touch, good people,” said Layton, mockingly; “and your guardians, or governors, or whatever they call themselves, have shut me out of my own premises. I am a priest cut off from his temple.”

      “I ‘m na come here to ask for charity,” said a stout old fellow, who stood alongside of a shaggy mountain pony; “I ‘m able to pay ye for a’ your docther’s stuff, and your skill besides.”

      “Well spoken, and like a man of independence,” said Layton. “Let us open the treaty with a gill of brandy, and you shall tell me your case while I am sipping it.” And with these words he led the way into a public-house, followed by the farmer, leaving the crowd to disperse when and how they pleased.

      Whatever the nature of those ailments now so confidentially imparted, they were long enough in narration not only to require one, or two, or three gills, but a full bottle of strong mountain whiskey, of which it is but fair to say the farmer took his share. Layton’s powers as a talker were not long in exercise ere they gained their due influence over his companion. Of the very themes the countryman deemed his own, he found the doctor knew far more than himself; while by his knowledge of life and human nature generally, he surprised his listener, who actually could not tear himself away from one so full of anecdote and observation.

      Partly warned by the lateness of the hour – for already the market was over and the streets deserted – and partly by the thick utterance of his companion, whose heavy, bloodshot eye and sullen look now evidenced how deeply he had exceeded, the farmer at last arose to go away.

      “You ‘re not ‘flitting.’ as you call it hereabouts,” said Layton, half stupidly, “you’re not thinking of leaving me alone to my own company, are you?”

      “I maun be thinkin’ of home; it’s more than twalve miles o’ a mountain that’s afore me. There’s na anither but yoursel’ had made me forget it a’ this while,” said the farmer, as he buttoned his coat and prepared for the road. “Just tell me now what’s to pay for the bit o’ writin’ ye gav’ me.”

      “You ‘ve had a consultation, my friend, – not a visit, but a regular consultation. You’ve not been treated like the outer populace, and only heard the oracles from afar, but you have been suffered to sit down beside the augur, to question him, and to drink with him. Pay, – nothing to pay! I’ll cure your boy, there’s my word on’t. These cases are specialities with me. Bell used to say, ‘Ask Layton to look at that fellow in such a ward; he’s the only one of us understands this sort of thing. Layton will tell us all about it.’ And I ‘m Layton! Ay, sir, this poor, shabby, ill-dressed fellow that you see before you is that same Herbert Layton; so much for brains and ability to work a man’s way in life! Order another quart of Isla whiskey, man, – that’s my fee; at least it shall be to-day. Tell them to send me pen, ink, and paper, and not disturb me; tell them, besides – no, nevermind, I’ll tell them that! And now, good-day, my honest fellow. You ‘ve been my physician to-day as much as I have been yours. You have cured a sick heart – cheated it, at least – out of one paroxysm, and so, a good journey, and safe home to you. Send me news of your boy, and good-bye.” And his head dropped as he spoke; his arms fell heavily at his sides; and he appeared to have sunk into a profound sleep. The stupor was but brief; the farmer was not well out of the village when Layton, calling for a basin of cold water, plunged his face and part of his head in it, baring his brawny throat, and bathing it with the refreshing liquid. As he was thus employed, he caught sight of his face reflected in a much-cracked mirror over the fireplace, and stood gazing for a few seconds at his blotched and bloated countenance.

      “A year or two left still, belike,” muttered he. “Past insuring, but still seaworthy, or, at least” – and here his voice assumed an intense mockery in tone, – “at least, capable of more shipwreck!” The sight of the writing-materials on the table seemed to recall him to something he had half forgotten, and, after a pause of reflection, he arranged the paper before him and sat down to write.

      With the ease of one to whom composition was familiar, he dashed off a somewhat long letter; but though he wrote with great rapidity, he recurred from time to time to the whiskey-bottle, drinking the strong spirits СКАЧАТЬ