Chapters 20 - 22 Summary

In chapter twenty, long before Helen and the RAF, Herriot is sent to Hensfield to cover for Siegfried's college buddy, Stewie Brannon. While still in Yorkshire County, Hensfield is very different from Darrowby for it is a mill town, complete with the dark and dreary atmosphere found in Dicken's best novels. Stewie's practice is mostly comprised of taking care of the pets of the poor, rarely charging more than a shilling for his expertise. The lack of medicines and supplies saddens James, leaving him hoping that he never has to deal with a difficult case. Just as James thinks this, a Golden Retriever, Kim, is brought in, having been run over by a car. The hind leg is attached only by a thread of skin.

In chapter twenty-one, James knows that Stewie's surgery does not have the necessary supplies to handle...