‘Gad, that’s true!’ said the doctor.
’Where is he? Show me the way.
I’ll look in again, as I come down, Mrs. Maylie.
That’s the little window that he got in at,
eh? Well, I couldn’t have believed it!’
Talking all the way, he followed Mr. Giles upstairs;
and while he is going upstairs, the reader may be
informed, that Mr. Losberne, a surgeon in the neighbourhood,
known through a circuit of ten miles round as ‘the
doctor,’ had grown fat, more from good-humour
than from good living: and was as kind and hearty,
and withal as eccentric an old bachelor, as will be
found in five times that space, by any explorer alive.
The doctor was absent, much longer than either he
or the ladies had anticipated. A large flat
box was fetched out of the gig; and a bedroom bell
was rung very often; and the servants ran up and down
stairs perpetually; from which tokens it was justly
concluded that something important was going on above.
At length he returned; and in reply to an anxious
inquiry after his patient; looked very mysterious,
and closed the door, carefully.
‘This is a very extraordinary thing, Mrs. Maylie,’
said the doctor, standing with his back to the door,
as if to keep it shut.
‘He is not in danger, I hope?’ said the
old lady.
’Why, that would not be an extraordinary
thing, under the circumstances,’ replied the
doctor; ’though I don’t think he is.
Have you seen the thief?’
‘No,’ rejoined the old lady.
‘Nor heard anything about him?’
‘No.’
’I beg your pardon, ma’am, interposed
Mr. Giles; ’but I was going to tell you about
him when Doctor Losberne came in.’
The fact was, that Mr. Giles had not, at first, been
able to bring his mind to the avowal, that he had
only shot a boy. Such commendations had been
bestowed upon his bravery, that he could not, for
the life of him, help postponing the explanation for
a few delicious minutes; during which he had flourished,
in the very zenith of a brief reputation for undaunted
courage.
‘Rose wished to see the man,’ said Mrs.
Maylie, ’but I wouldn’t hear of it.’
‘Humph!’ rejoined the doctor. ’There
is nothing very alarming in his appearance.
Have you any objection to see him in my presence?’
‘If it be necessary,’ replied the old
lady, ‘certainly not.’
‘Then I think it is necessary,’ said the
doctor; ’at all events, I am quite sure that
you would deeply regret not having done so, if you
postponed it. He is perfectly quiet and comfortable
now. Allow me—Miss Rose, will you
permit me? Not the slightest fear, I pledge
you my honour!’
RELATES WHAT OLIVER’S NEW VISITORS THOUGHT OF HIM
With many loquacious assurances that they would be
agreeably surprised in the aspect of the criminal,
the doctor drew the young lady’s arm through
one of his; and offering his disengaged hand to Mrs.
Maylie, led them, with much ceremony and stateliness,
upstairs.
