“Ifyou’llkeepyourselfquiet,”answeredthedoctor,“that’sallIshallexpect.”
“Oh,youneedn’tfearaboutme.Iknowallaboutthesethings—why,mydeardoctor,I’vebroughtagoodsightmorelivingthingsintotheworldthanyouhave,Ibet.”
Edward,calm,self-possessed,unimaginative,wastheidealpersonforanemergency.
“There’snogoodmyknockingaboutthehousealltheafternoon,”hesaid.“Ishouldonlymope,andifI’mwantedIcanalwaysbesentfor.”
HeleftwordthathewasgoingtoBewlie’sFarmtoseeasickcow,aboutwhichhewasveryanxious.
“She’sthebestmilkerI’veeverhad.Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifanythingwentwrongwithher.Shegivesherso-manypintsaday,asregularaspossible.She’sbroughtinoverandoveragainthemoneyIgaveforher.”
HewalkedalongwiththefreeandeasystepwhichBerthasomuchadmired,glancingnowandthenatthefieldswhichborderedthehighway.Hestoppedtoexaminethebeansofarivalfarmer.
“Thatsoil’snogood,”hesaid,shakinghishead.“Itdon’tpaytogrowbeansonapatchlikethat.”
WhenhearrivedatBewlie’sFarm,Edwardcalledforthelabourerinchargeoftheinvalid.
“Well,how’sshegoing?”
“Sheain’tnobetter,squire.”
“Badjob....HasThompsonbeentoseeherto-day?”Thompsonwasthevet.
“‘Ecan’tmakenothin’ofit—’ethinksit’sahabscessshe’sgot,butIdon’tputmuchfaithinMisterThompson:’isfatherwasalabourersameasme,only’edidn’t’avetodowithfarming,bein’abricklayerandwot’issoncanknowaboutcattleisbeyondmealtogether.”
“Well,let’sgoandlookather,”saidEdward.
Hestrodeovertothebarn,followedbythelabourer.Thebeastwasstandinginonecorner,evenmoremeditativethanisusualwithcows,hangingherheadandhumpingherback.Sheseemedprofoundlypessimistic.
“IshouldhavethoughtThompsoncoulddosomething,”saidEdward.
“‘Esaysthebutcher’stheonlythingfor’er,”saidtheother,withgreatcontempt.
Edwardsnortedindignantly.“Butcherindeed!I’dliketobutcherhimifIgotthechance.”
He