! » >A?«K^SS« i'^'S^/i ^mSJ^ k»i^ bi?iiTi^ L I B RARY OF THL UN IVE.RSITY or ILLINOIS 823 T743v^ V.I Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. University of Illinois Library L161— O-1096 NEW NOVELS BY POPULAR AUTHORS, In Circulation at every Library. In 3 Vols. LITTLE MISS FAIRFAX. Br KEN^TIR DEENE, Author of the " Schoolmaster of Alton," &c. In 2 Vols. FORTY YEARS AGO. Edited by Mrs. C. J. KEWBT, AUTHOR OF "Wonderous Strange," "Kate Kennedy," " Common Sense," &c. In 1 Vol. THE SPIXSTERS OF SAXDHAM. In 3 Vols. AUNT BETSY'S TRAINING. — Railways, postages — in a word, all the numerous facilities of the age — have almost annihilate! distance, and, as a natural result, caused an individual trade between country customers and London establishments. Those who do not visit town, so as to select and purchase directly, send for patterns from which they can give their orders. But as all apparent advantages on the one hand have more or less their corresponding drawbacks, so this system is not without its bane. Pushing tradesmen make a market by offering goods at lower rates than they can possibly be sold at to realise a fair profit. The bait traps the unrcfiective, and the result is that the receipts en masse are not equal to the tempting samples. There is no new invention in this ; it has been practised in wholesale merchandise and by candidates for contracts, as the proverb hath it, since there were hills and valleys. But we grieve to add it is sometimes resorted to by those whom one woiild credit for more integrity. Ladies, therefore, need exercise caution, and place confidence only in houses of old-established fame, for rapidly-made businesses are not generally reliable. And to what does this asser- tion amount more than to the fact that nothing great can be effected not only without labour but without time, and that Eome was not built, as the old saying says, in a day ? Messrs. Jay, of Ecgent-street; whose name is well known amongst the few on the list of bonajide establishments in the metropolis, are about to adopt a plan (which will be registered) for assisting country ladies in choosing for themselves London fashions and fabrics. And their customers may rest assured that they will thus be enabled to obtain goods of every quality, both low and high priced, at the most reasonable terms — that is, the terms of small profits for quick returns — and that they may firmly rely upon the thoroughly corresponding character of samples and supplies. — From the Court Journal, April 27, 1867. THE RIVAL DOCTORS A NOVEL, In Two Volumes. Bt FEANK TEOLLOPE, AUTHOR OF "a BIGHT-MINDED WOMAN; " "AN OLD MAN's SECRET Vol. I. LONDON: T. CAUTLEY NEWBY, PUBLISHEK, 30, WELBECK STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. • 1.867 [All Rights Reserved.'] Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign http://www.archive.org/details/rivaldoctorsnove01trol ?a5 t 00 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. CHAPTER I. .; The table cloth was spread for dinner. The ^ clock struck the hour of twelve. The occupant ^of the room hastily rose from her chair, and ^ putting down the work on which she had been ^ engaged, walked briskly towards the fire- ^ place, and lifting the lid from an iron sauce- pan, placed on a trivet, vigorously stirred the ■^savoury contents, thereby causing a most ^ appetising odour to float about the room as Cthe steam curled forth. 2 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. The little woman was plainly dressed, her clothes being somewhat of a sober hue, her cap, however, was white as snow. It was not a widow's cap, yet no one could look at that cap, and the plainly banded hair slightly streaked with grey, on which it rested, without being certain its wearer was a ^ddow ; her age — well never mind her age — did not prevent her bustling about and being as active and indus- trious as a bee in the bright summer time. Having satisfied herself that the contents of the saucepan were progressing satisfactorily, she opened the door of a corner cupboard, and taking from a shelf two plates (willow pattern,) which she placed upon the table, flanked them by drinking horns, knives, forks and spoons, and all the other requisites for the mid-day meal. Again she took the lid from the sauce- pan, and again stirred the contents, and being satisfied all was going on as it should do, she placed a good sized dish before the fire and then returned to her easy-chair, re-adjusted her spectacles comfortably on her nose, resumed THE RIV^VL DOCTORS. 6 her knitting, and whilst she vigorously plied tlie needles, ever and anon looked at the clock and watched the hands glide slowly on. More than a quarter of an hour had passed since the clock struck twelve, and the little woman became somewhat fidgetty ; the sauce- pan was again examined and a general survey was taken of the table, to be sure all required was there and every thing in its right place — she reseated herself, but instead of knitting she fell into a train of thought, and thus solilo- quised. "More than a quarter past twelve ! What can Peter be about ! he is very much behind his time. I hope he has not met that wild youth William SaA\yer, who is always getting himself and his companions into some scrape or other. Surely Peter cannot be long. The dish is thoroughly hot now, so I'll pour the hash into it, and put it close to the fire, it will not get cold and be ready to put on the table when he does come." This determination was acted upon ; having arranged the dish to her satisfaction, the anxious mother left the B 3. 4 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. roomy and entered the shop which was in front. An ngly, gaunt, and stupid looking boy was there, sitting bolt upright on a high stool, cramming himself with a piece of fat pork he had upon a thick slice of bread, which served in the place of a plate, his legs hung dangling and were kept in motion like the pendulum of a clock. This was "Billy" the shop-boy, who, immediately he perceived his mistress, stopped the oscillating motion of his lanky legs "Billy my lad," said his mistress, "just go into the street and see if your master is coming, it's gone the quarter past twelve and I'm afraid the dinner will get cold." Billy jumped from his perch and was in the street in a minute, where he might be seen straining his eyes by looking first up, and then down, and scratching his shaggy head, and pulling his lanky locks ;all to little purpose, for his young master was no where to be seen, — ^and in fact the street was empty, if we except a couple of dogs contending THE RIVAL DOCTORS. for a piece of pork, which Billy in his haste had let fall, and an old blind man led by a dirty looldng child. So Billy, gave up the search and returned to the shop, saying, "Master Peter isnt coming," and with the same alacrity he had displayed in jumping from his perch, he again re-seated himself. The Avidow Jenkins retreated to her parlour, and for a minute stood in front of the fire looking anxiously at the dish of savoury hash. Then resolving to wait patiently a little longer she reseated herself, and resumed her occupa- tion, her knitting needles keeping time with the tick of the clock, accompanied by the purring of a drowsy black cat sleeping on the rug before the fire. Half-past twelve had gone by, and the widow began to get very uneasy, for with all her care the hash was cooling ; she took ofi" her specta- cles, rubbed them vigorously with her apron, again left her chair and went to the table and began putting the table cloth straight, moving every article upon it with a fidgetty nervous t) THE RIVAL DOCTORS. ness, putting some awry, which after a moment her quick eye detecting she placed each in its proper place. A voice in the shop and a firm step put an end to her anxiety. '' Hallo ! Billy, wake up ! What the deuce do you mean by going to roost in the middle of the day. You had better not let me catch you at that trick again, or I shall try the toughness of your long ears." "To be sure master," replied Billy in a squeaky voice. " Is dinner ready ?" " Yes, master Peter, missus has been iidget- ting in and out the shop this last half-hour." Without further remark Peter Jenkins, the old woman's only son, betook himself to the parlour. We may as well here remark that this Peter Jenkins was a remarkably handsome youth, of about nineteen years of age, tall, well made, and upright. His eyes were grey and languishing with unusually long lashes, and his eye-brows raven black. His hair was of THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 7 the same colour, his features good and n-gular, his face somewhat pale, his air exceedingly manly. His dress was neat, and, like his mother's, sombre, what is generally called pepper and salt colour. His jacket somewhat loose, his waistcoat open do^Ti to the breast, with one or two buttons off duty about the waist. His shirt collar was loose round his well made throat, giving him a careless, easy appearance. His hat was not put straight on to his head, but placed jauntily on one side, and the wide brim, then generally worn nearly flat, was curled up like the dog's-eared leaves of a book, his dress and manner altogether inspir- ing the idea of what is now termed a fast young man. His cloak of brown broad-cloth was jerked over his left shoulder, leaving his right arm bare, his grey stockings were an excellent fit ; for his well made legs and ankles were not hidden mysteries to him, and his shoes were square at the toes. The little hair that he had upon his lip and chin was cultivated to great perfection, and one of his pleasures was to S THE RIVAL DOCTORS. stand before the small glass in his bed-room, and smile delightedly at the contrast between his white teeth and juvenile black moustache. His ears were small and delicately fashioned. The wristbands of his shirt were white as snow, and turned back over his sleeves, which were made short to show off his ^vrist as well as to give a smart appearance to his hands. In short, Peter Jenkins was, in modern parlance, '' an exquisite." " You are very late, Peter " began his mother the moment he entered the room, "where have you been ?" " Oh, never mind that just now, mother," he said throwing his hat on the cat's back, and his cloak on the easy chair, " never mind at present, let us make up for lost time and see how your hash improves by keeping." By this time the little lady had placed the savoury dish on the table, and Peter, seating himself, began making fearful havoc on the viands around him, to which his mother helped him to all the nicest parts. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 9 Peter, having satisfied his hunger, drank his ale, and rising from the table, pushed his chair towards the fire and ensconced himself in another somewhat easier, thro^mig one arm over the back of it, putting the other into his waistcoat^ then crossing his legs fixed his eyes intently, and we are bound to add, admiringly, upon his foot and ankle, humming a tune in a low voice, whilst his mother busied lierscK in removing the remains of their repast, and setting the room in order. This being accom- phshed, she folded Peter's cloak, and hung up his hat, and then quietly deposited herself in her easy chair and resumed her knitting. Peter left oiF humming, uncrossed his legs, stretched himself and ya^\^led ; then leaning his elbows on his knees and his chest on his hands, looked at his mother ^Tth a half smile and a good deal of affection. He then became thoughtful. "' Well, my dear boy, what are you tli inking about?' '^ Why, how long my good mother do you B 5. 10 THE EIVAL DOCTORS. imagine I can go on, putting up quires of paper, selling penny-worths of pens, and sticks of sealing wax, and pulling Billy's ears." His mother, after re-adjusting her spectacles, stared at her son and asked him what he had been saying. Peter repeated his speech and the old lady resumed her knitting, observing : "How long, my dear boy ? why till you have made money enough to keep you from want in your old age: till you can leave the business to your children when you have any, bless their dear little hearts, though, perhaps, I may not live to see them !" Peter burst into a loud and long fit of laughter, apparently much amused by his mothers words, and when he was able to restrain his mirth he said. — " Yes, mother, till I shall have sobered down into a sleek, demure, old buck of a citizen, with a portly wife, or perhaps a shrew, for they are more common, and a bakers dozen of brats hanging about me. No, no, my good mother, that would not suit me ; Fd sooner be THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 11 hanged in chains. This time you have missed the mark." " Tell me then, what you mean." " I don't like beating about the bush, so I may as well out with my plans and intention at once; so, just take the endows off your eyes and listen. Come, prick up your ears and attend !" " Peter ! Peter !" remonstrated his mother as, in obedience to his command, she pulled off her ^windows' and put down her knitting, '^ are you serious ! What do you mean ? Xow, pray boy, do give up playing off your jokes at me." "Why, mother, what do you fear," inter- rupted Peter laughing. "I'm not going to turn highwayman, or pick-pocket, no nor yet soldier — man of blood as you would call then me, but may I be " " Hush, Peter, don't — " " Swear, I suppose you mean. But really its hard work to keep one's tongue within bourcl.«i at times. However, the truth is, I'm 12 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. not going to be a dealer in pens, ink, and paper a day longer ; losing my precious time, in attending upon sour old maids and 'blue stockings.' I've made up my mind, and as far as I am concerned tlie shop may be " " Hush, Peter, hush ! i:>ray do not — " " Do not what, mother," said the young man laughing, "I was only going to say, that as far as I am concerned, the shop may be kept by you and Billy. Once for all I'm tired of the dingy old place, I'm going to be a surgeon." '' A surgeon !" echoed the old woman. '' Yes, a surgeon," and Peter jumped up, placing one hand on his hip, the other on his breast ; and to his mother's look of incredulous surprise, replied with a knowing wink and a nod: " Upon my life, mother, you look more startled than Macbeth did, when he saAv the witches on the blasted " " Don't swear, Peter, pray don't, there's a dear boy.'' ''Swear, I was not swearing, I was making THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 13 use of Shakspeare's language, only you would not let me finish the sentence. You realh- look as if you had seen a ghost, or a devil, or an angel, or something or other. I know exactly what's passing in yoiu* mind, and all your objections — cutting, hacking, bleeding. sawing, blistering — the horrid cruelty, and the like of it. That's all nonsense. Just see how you. and all the world fly to the doctor, if your little fingers ache, and when death is knocking at your door, what would vou do if you had no suro-eon to send for'-' Badly enough ! badly enough I and as to their sawing ofi* a leg, or an arm. there's 210 cruelt\- in it, they only do it as a matter of necessitv. I'll tell you what mother, there's no kinder hearted men, no more liumane men, than surgeons — and they are gentlemen too. So a surgeon I'll be, may I be " " Have done," interrupted his mother, ''don't swear, pray don't.'' '• Well, I wont then. Xow tell me mother, what do you think of my plan ?-' 14 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. " Your plan !" " Yes, my plan." " Well, I must say it's only of a piece with most of your head-strong, wilful, wild-goose schemes ; but I know that I have no power to control you — but this I must say, I don't like the doctoring trade, — surgeons are for the most part, cruel and hardened men, and I don't like their ways. Only to think of those blessed hands of yours, cutting the flesh of a fellow-man, and draining his blood. — It makes my flesh creep all over me only to think of it; and what's worse, just think of their horrible cruelty in taking dead bodies from their graves, to treat them without respect or decency. Don't do it, Peter, don't do it." " What strange notions you have, mother, and how ungrateful you are ; why it's all done for your good, aye and for the benefit of the whole human race. I attended at the dissec- tion of a body this morning, and that was the reason of my being so late home for dinner." '' What ! be a dissecter, Peter !'' cried the old THE EIVAL DOCTORS. 1^ woman completely aghast. "How dreadful?" " What cutting up a corpse to shew w^hat it is like, and to learn all it's parts and their uses — oh ! it was fine fun." " Peter, Peter, I can't bear to hear you go on so. Fine fun to cut up a poor dead fellow- creature, oh !'' — " Well mother, what w^ould you have me do ; surely you w^ould not wish me to cut up a live one." "Peter, Peter, I can plainly see that you have been in dissolute company, or you would not have been so sadly led astray ; I always said that wdld youth, William Sawyer v\^ould do you no good — Oh ! my poor boy !'' " Poor boy ! wdiy, mother, you talk of me as if I w^ere a charity child. — However, Pm losing precious time, so I must be up and doing, for Fve promised Doctor Goodwyn to apprentice myself to him, and Pm to begin next Monday. Let's see, to day's Thursday, so I shall soon be at it," and the young man rubbed his hands with great glee. 16 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. " I'm to live at home, mother," continued her son, " and attend him all day, except at meal times : so you perceive you will not lose your dear son, as the doctor's house is only in the next street." " Oh ! my dear Peter, I feel—" "Quite overpowered, I can see/' laughed the youth. "I'll tell you what I'll do, mother ; I'll physic you for nothing and bring pussy's kittens into the world for a trifle. Ah ! now that's right mother ; I like to see a smile u^oon your countenance, if it's ever so small a one. I'll promise you Fll soon be at the top of the tree. Only think of }our dear bo}^ Ijeino' dressed like a lord, and ridino- in a fine coach perhaps." Here Peter began strutting about the room, with his head erect, and twisting his body about with the air of an opera dancer, at length halting before his mother, who was wiping her glasses and shaking her head, he stuck his hat jauntily on one side, and stooping down gave her a kiss. THE RIVAIi DOCTORS. 17 " How proud you will be in a very short time, my good mother, of your clever boy ! €ome, cheer up ! don't be thinking of the cutting and sawing, bleeding and blistering, and such ghastly stuff. Think only of seeing your son on a splendid thorough-bred pranc- ing horse, or in his handsome carriage.'' " All vanities, Peter," sighed the old woman. "Nonsense, mother, they are not vanities; I must leave you, for I am off to Doctor Good^vyn's ; you will not see me again till sup- per time; and I promise I'll not keep you waiting again. Farewell — Goodbye, Pussy !'' he rolled the cat over with his foot, and putting on his cloak, left his poor old mother to her work, and her reflections ; and wended his way through the shop, not, however, without giving Billy a fillip on the tip of his nose, and a pull of the ear to make him sharp. He then went on his way singing one of the popular airs of the day. CHAPTER II. The ardently looked for Monday came, and Peter Jenkins entered upon his new course of studies at Dr. Goodwin's, leaving pens, ink, and paper, to be served to customers, by the greatly discomfited ^vidow and the boy Billy. In most respects the departure of Peter from the shop was an advantage, as many of the persons who dealt there were dissenters. Peter's off-hand manner gave grave offence to their precise habits, for he was ever and anon lettiag off some jest, and received their orders with a nonchalant air very offensive to their THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 19 dignity and ideas of propriety, and due defer- ence to them as customers. The widow was greatly fretted and com- plained bitterly to her aquaintance of lier son's dereliction of duty. On one of these occasions a very esteemed friend of her late husband, who had called in the evening, ostensibly to procure some \vriting paper, but really to chat mth Mrs. Jenkins, remarked: *' Console yourself, and take it not to heart. However, much you may regret Peter's way- wardness, depend on it, it's all for the best." " I do try to think it's all for the best, Mr. Hide ; but what most vexes me is, that he should be reprobate enough to turn surgeon !'' " Well, to be sure, that is very hard to bear, for truly I look upon them as the scum of the earth. Yet, without meaning any offence, my dear madam, I can't help thinking that your son is fitter to be one of them, than for the respectable trade his father followed." "Why so, Mr. Hide?" " Because he is constantly offending, as 20 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. well as hurting the feelings of the graver portion of your customers by his silly jests, and above all, as I have heard, by staring young maidens out of countenance, if they were at all pretty." " Poor Peter !" sighed his mother, " I fear what you allege against him is too near the truth ; still it is hard to bear. Pd rather see him minding our shop soberly and quietly, than cutting and sawing the dead bodies of his fellow creatures, along with a set of irood-for-nothino' hard-hearted doctors." o o "But bad as they are, Mrs. Jenkins, we could not do without them. And although to us the dissecting of corpses may appear very horrid, yet they will tell you that without looking into these mysteries they would not be able to cure our bodily hurts and sicknesses ; and sure enough we are all glad to fly to them for aid in our hours of pain and sickness. So, after all, my good friend, they are of use. Don't be cast do^vn, there's a good lady." " It's all very w^ell, Mr. Hide, but any one THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 21 can see ^vitll half an eye that you are no mother. I know the doctors are somethnes of use, as you say ; but it sadly grieves me that Peter has not taken a better way of being useful, poor dear boy ! Only to think that his delicate hands, which all his life I have taken such pains to keep clean and white, should be soiled in such a trade,'' and here the poor widow gave forth a demi-sigh, a demi-groan, as in her mind's eye she pictured to herself the little chubby face of Peter at four years old, armed with a large knife, committing dreadful havoc on his fellow men. "Well, well, what can't be cured, must be endured, as the saying is ; so take comfort, for your business Avill be all the better for the change ; maidens will not be scared away by your son's admiring looks ; nor staid people offended at his laughing jests. Take my word for it, the boy is as fit for one of those blood-thirsty-lucifers, as any in the city of London." Havinor uttered these words, Mr. Hide rose 22 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. to take his leave, for it was quite dusk ; but at the moment, suddenly a skull was held between him and his auditress, as they stood cheek by jowl — a fleshless skull appeared and a sepulchral groan saluted their ears. The widow Jenkins literally yelled, and Mr. Hide tried to escape, but tripped and fell to the ground, whilst Peter, the author of the misfor- tune, laughed, immoderately as he threw the skull on Hide's broad expansive back, at the same time calling out : " Hallo ! any bones dislocated or broken, Mr. Hide ? Don't you want a blood-thirsty- lucifer to set you to rights ? It's a bad trade to speak evil things of one's betters, of which you have had a practical illustration — in your tumble. I'll help you to get up nevertheless," and Peter drew near, and took poor Hide by his arms, giving him a sort of galvanic shake, and having placed him on his feet, the poor old gentleman made a false start, and putting his foot on the skull would have fallen again, had not Peter caught hold of him. Looking THE RIVAL DOCTORS 25 tremblingly at the skull, which appeared to him as if grinning at his misadventure, he this time made a rush into the shop, and thence into the street, with an activity that did credit to his agility. Peter could not refrain from laughing, but after a moment his eye catching sight of the skull, his countenance instantly changed into a more serious look, and stooping to pick it up, he said in a grave tone — •'My dear mother, pardon me for saying that I think you do very wrong to lament over me to our neighbours ; especially as you are certain that having made up my mind to be a surgeon, nothing on earth can turn me from my purpose. Would it not therefore be wiser and more discreet to leave off lamentinor. Depend on it, my good mother, the time is not far distant when instead of repenting my being a surgeon you will rejoice in my selection of a profession." "True, Peter, I know I cannot dissuade THE RIVAL DOCTORS. you ; but it pains me to see you taking to such a course." " Taking to such a course " repeated Peter, " why one would imagine that I had become highwayman, or sheepstealer ! instead of turning my attention to becoming a surgeon. Why, a. surgeon," he continued putting his hand on the top of the skull, '' is a man to be looked up to by all classes of society, both sick and well, rich and poor. A surgeon is a man of learning, knows every artery, vein and nerve in the body. He is a man who raises himself above the general herd, and whose mind is opened and expanded, and cares not for the foolish fancies and nonsense of the rabble, he " " Peter, Peter, your dear father, god rest his bones ! never talked as you talk now. He had an aversion to doctors ; he always said, good man, they and the free-masons, have dealings with satan and " "Mother, how. can you repeat such idle words. I do not remember my father, and THE RIVAL DOCTORS, 25 Fm boimd to respect him, but I cannot help saving that both he and you are wrong — " ''Wrong, Peter! wrong! my poor dear departed husband wTong! Throughout his whole life he was never ^%Tong. There was no man who kept his accounts better, or minded his shop more carefully than your respected father. I only wish his son had followed in his steps ; but I'm afraid Peter, you will soon get as bad and as cruel as surgeons always are." " I fear, mother, it's no use talking to you ; but as to surgeons being bad and cruel, they are no worse than other men, only they don't allow their pity to interfere where they can do good by keeping it in subjection. Just let me ask you, mother, which do you think would be best for a surgeon called into a chap with " '' Peter, pray don't frighten me, there's s^ dear lad." Peter laughed heartily, and patting the skull threw it up in the air, and catcliing it, ugain went on — VOL. 1. C. 26 THE RIV.VL DOCTORS. ^^ Well tlicn, mother, suppose he was called into a broken leg, that needed cutting off, which do you think would be his wisest course, to stand by and cry over the patient like a a fool and give way to his nature, pity the man to his face, and refuse to take off the broken limb, because it would hurt his own feelings to do it ; or buckle to, hold his tongue, keep his pity to himself, and in all probability save the man's life ? Now just tell me, mother, which do you think would be best ?'' '' Really, Peter, I cannot say. It's all very dreadful," and the poor old lady trembled violently. " You will never be a surgeon that's quite certain, mother. So now let's have some supper, for I'm as hungry as a hunter, after a hard day's run. Hallo ! Billy, just run up into my room ^\dth this dead man's cranium and bring down my old easy shoes. Come, look sharp !" and he held out the skull. Billy stood greatly in awe of his young master, but at this precise moment he stood in much THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 27 greater awe of the skull, and as he put forth his lean hands to receive it, he let it fall to the ground. Peter ordered him to pick it up, but the widow remonstrated. '' Surely, Peter, you are not going to sleep with a dead man's skull in your room ! I can't abide the thought of it." " Yes, mother, I'm going to try what can ])j done that way " returned her son. " I've slept nineteen years with a skull and that's mv OT\Ti, and I don't think I am anv the worse for it. Neither do I tliink you aie for carr^'ing one on yotir shotdders night and day. Xor Billy there, for carrying one covered Avith flaming red hair : so I don't imagine that this brainless hollow head can do any of us much harm whether we sleep or wake. However, I will humour you this ouce, by carrying it up stairs myself ; so, Billy, yoa may just lend a hand to your mistress, to get the supper ready. I'll lock up this gentleman so that you need not fear his coming down to help to eat off your platter." c. 2. 28 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. ^' Bless you, Peter, don't talk so," said his mother, as her son went whistling up to his room, to deposit his treasure and to change his new shoes for a pair of old slippers ; and she and Billy set to work to put the savoury little supper on the table, after which the boy shut the shop, taking with him his bread and cheese supper, and retired to his narrow hard bed to dream of skulls, and to wonder how doctors could make them out of people's heads. CHAPTER III. Peter Jenkins had a fellow pupil at Dr. GoodT^^}Tl's, somewhat older than himself, a sinister, bilious looking young man, under- jawed, hook-nosed, narrow shouldered, hawk- eyed, whose black hair disdained a cur^^e, and whose clothes hung upon him very much after the fashion of Dr. Sangrado's, in Gil Bias. His ugly carcase, for his face though sinister, could not be called ugly, served as the tene- ment of an avaricious, envious, selfish mind. He loved himself to madness, for madness it must have been to love such a creature as Jim 30 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Brewster. It was well he did so, for no one else paid him that compliment. His was the concentrated essence of self-love, without mix- ture or dilution, and he had, moreover, a similar essence of hatred for any one who could in the remotest degree compare with oi* injure his cherished self. With this Jim Brewster, Peter pursued his studies, learnt everything he could with an avidity that shewed he had thrown his whole soul into his loved occupation, and after his labours pursued his amusements in the same spirit, giving his whole heart to whatever might be the pursuit of the moment ; and without thinking about it won both the esteem and affections of his master, his master's wife, his master s children and every acquaintance, male and female, that he made. Brewster studied with equal ardour and strained every nerve to keep pace with Peter ^ if he could not surpass him. His recreations, however, were not pursued in the same kindly spirit as Peter's. A solitary pipe in his own THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 31 lodgings, or a tankard of ale at some quiet tavern with one or two inferiors, whom he despised, but did not dread, formed the chief of his amusements. He paid homage to the fair sex in his o^\'n peculiar way, without either gaiety or gallantry, and he envied and hated Peter Jenkins mth his whole heart. The two young men were opposites in every way, and yet they started as rivals, and con- tinued so throughout their lives; or more properly speaking, Brewster considered with envious eyes that Jenkins was his rival, whilst Jenkins only endeavoured to be perfect in his profession without measuring himself by any man. Still less did he dream of any rivalry on the part of ' Blue Jim,' as he was nick- named by the young students of his day. Peter thought him a cross grained animal and troubled himself very little about his ugly ways. Brewster was fond of wandering about the meadows and lanes that at the time suiTounded the city, walking in solitary dignity, his hands 32 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. in his pockets, and his rusty beaver perched almost on his nose, making him look somewhat like an ambulating scare-crow, in fact an unpre- possessing individual, whose appearance was certainly not a perpetual letter of recommend- ation. This bilious young Galen as he strayed one warm summer evening, his studies over, among the buttercups, daisies and cowslips which bedecked the meadows, suddenly broke off the saturnine train of thought he had been pursuing — viz : showering imprecations upon Jenkins who had that day surpassed him, and in which he was moreover planning how in his turn he might distance him — on hearing a clear shrill voice merrily singing a popular melody over the hedge. Brewster pricked up his ears, the voice pleased him, he scrambled with his long arms and legs through the bushes, and beheld some fifty yards from him a pretty young milkmaid milking her cows under the shade of some lofty elms. Jim re-perched his hat upon his nose, for the brambles had THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 33 pushed it to the back of his head, and strode up to the girl, who neither looked at him nor left oiF her ringing lightsome ditty. " Blue Jim " put his hands in his pockets and stared at her plump red cheeks and hands to match ; her clear blue eyes, white teeth, flaxen hair and pouting lips were worthy of the admiration of any man, and Jim Brewster as he gravely regarded her, did due homage to her various charms in his heart. '' Will you sell me a cup of milk ?" he asked, after his silent, scrutiny, holding out a penny as he spoke. The girl left off singing, looked up at him, shading her eyes from the nearly setting sun, i-eceived the penny and handed him a tolerably sized can full of milk, which he tossed off, smacked his thin lips, wiped his mouth mth the cuff of his coat and again said : " Your milk is excellent. Give me another can full." The girl did as she was bid and the bony youth sipped the snowy liquid and tried to 34 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. look fascinating between each sip, but instead he positively made his countenance appear more diabolical than usual. The milk-maid who could not refrain from looking at him as she stood with one hand on her hip and the other on the cow's neck, thought she had never beheld a more forbidding and devilish looking countenance, and after having cast a contemptuous sneer on his spindle shanks, which fortunately for her ^ Blue Jim ' did not observe, she again commenced her song, and turning her back upon the youth proceeded with her avocation and began milking another of the sweet-breathed cows. Brewster having swallowed the last drop of milk, advanced towards the damsel, who was now singing at the highest pitch of her voice. At this moment Peter and two of his some- what rakish companions entered the field. ^' Hallo ! my lads," cried Peter, " upon my life, there's that spawn of Satan " Blue Jim '' among the cows with his dingy clothes and rusty hat resting on the bridge of his nose.'' THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 35 " By St. Peter ! I believe the ugly looking hound is making love to the milkmaid " replied one of his companions, the rakish William Sawyer denounced by the widow Jenkins as not a fitting companion for her son. '' Caught in the very act," roared the other youth. " Let's stand here and watch liis love- making.*' " A capital suggestion," said Peter '• by Jove, he is the very personification of the old gentle- man in black out courting,'' and the trio chuckled in great glee at the idea, " only he don't set about it in so masterly a way as old Xick would do, and certainly the damsel does not seem to admire the lancruishino^ swain very much." " Keep quiet, my lads,'' said Sa^vyer " only look at the Adonis just now." Brewster, after intently watching the maiden who had her back to him, cat Hke, advanced towards her, hemmed once or t\vice, which the loud notes of the singer pre- vented being heard, and proceeded to tap her 56 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. sharply on the shoulder with his thin bony fingers, thus putting an immediate stop to the girl's melody, who turning quietly round, cried : " Paws ofF, young man ; just keep your fingers to yourself, I don't want them I'm sure ; they be as much like leather thongs as anything I ever saw." Brewster grinned a most sardonic grin which he intended should be a most fascinating and captivating smile and looking up from under his hat, said : " Tell me, my pretty one, what I am to give you for the milk.'' " A penny to be sure," said the girl ver}^ coolly. " But I have not another penny to give you. Now, my pretty maiden, what say you'to take something else instead of it." "What have you to give? Come look sharp, I haven't a minute to spare, for I must be getting home." Brewster took the girl's hand and kneeling THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 1^7 do^vn by her side pressed it close to his heart and in what he intended to be an ^affectionate voice, said : '* I will give you as many kisses as you will take, my pretty damsel.'' *' Kisses 1" shouted the girl, " I'd sooner be kissed by father's ugly dog Jack. — Kiss indeed ! if I do give milk for a kiss it shan't be to such an ugly, spindled-shanked, blue bottle as you. Get off with you or I'll give you a good slap on the face and twist that ugly looking nose of yours." Brewster heeded not the girl's threats, but proceeded to put his lips close to the milk- maid's cheeks, and losing his usual cool calcu- lating caution he endeavoured to kiss her. In a moment the girl had knocked off his hat, gave him a sound box on the ears, and jumped up on her feet. Brewster jumped up also, still holding the girl's hand firmly, and perseveringly attempt- ing to kiss her; but she stoutly battled with liim refusing to accept his proffered pay- 38 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. merit for the milk, and seizing his nose as she had promised, rung it unmercifully, and at the top of her shrill voice called out for help. Peter and his allies ran shouting and laugh- ing to the rescue and seized " Blue Jim " by the arms, when the girl, seeing her debtor in the hands of her deliverers, let go her hold on his nose, which was now of a fiery red, forming a strong contrast to the rest of his cadaverous looking countenance. Poor Brewster cut a pitiful figure, whilst struggling to release him- self from the grasp of the three youths. " Now, tell us, young woman '' said Peter " what are we to clo with this lovely looking Adonis. Shall we set him free or will you 2:)unish him.'' " Curse you ! let go my arms " roared Brewster trembling with rage, twisting and writhing in the hands of Peter and his two delighted companions. " Hold fast, SaA^yer " said Peter, ^'now my lass, tell me what you wish us to do with your sweetheart.'^ THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 39 " Sweetheart!" cried the girl " he's no sweetheart of mine, the ugly wretch.'' " Well, what shall we do with him ?" asked Sawyer. " WTiy just put him on the back of ' Brown Bess ' here, and she shall give him a canter round the field.'' " Brown Bess '' was one of Pharaoh's lean kine, with a spine sharp as a knife, and on her back Brewster was placed amidst tlie roars of laughter of the three " young men, assisted mirthfullv bv the milk-maid amid the cursinix and swearing of their victim. " Tie his legs under Bess's belly '' roared the girl, and a second a halter from a coav's neck secured the long shanks of poor '• Blue Jim." William Sawyer gave " Brown Bess " a smart lash with the stick he had in his hand and away both she and her burden went with as quick a cow's trot as could be accomplished. Brewster bent his straight body forward, clutching the horns of the cow, which trotted 40 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. him round the field followed by the four persecutors laughing and halloing close at the tail of the animal, almost as terrified as her rider. On she trotted and onwards bumped poor Brewster with the visage of a demon. The cow made for a pond and Sawyer urged her on, and into the water she rushed when at the moment the halter broke and down went " Blue Jim " into the water, from which he speedily emerged, his long hair clinging to his back like so many water-spouts, his clothes covered with mud and thoroughly wet through. He no sooner reached terra firma than off he ran at his utmost speed, and Brown Bess quietly returned to her sisters ; whilst the three wild youths claimed a kiss each from the milk maid for their services. The kisses were good humouredly gwoxv and received by each cavalier hat in hand. The adventure Avas never forgotten by the damsel, and Brewster also remembered it all the days of his life, it rankled and festered his heart, kindling a deep and revengeful hatred THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 41 against the three youths, but more especially against his rival Peter Jenkins, long years after the youthful doctor and his chums had forgotten it, as well as many other tricks played off by them which served to promote among them merriment and good fellowship. CHAPTER IV. The widow Jenkins, by degrees, became more reconciled to her son's choice of a pro- fession. He studied early and late but he neither made Billy a subject for dissection, nor operated upon her black pussy-cat. Moreover, finding that he continued as affec- tionate a son as heretofore, she began to have a better opinion of medical practitioners in general. Still, at times, the old woman would heave heavy sighs when she thought how much better it would have been had her son con- tinued the business so long carried on by her venerated husband. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 43 Billy, too, brightened up, and as it were came to life again when, after two or three years, he had entirely conquered his dread of skulls and thigh-bones, and could look almost complacently on the various preparations and anatomical curiosities with which his young master ornamented his dormitory. His terror passed, curiosity and pleasure took the place of it, and Billy might be seen at every spare moment from his shop duties, creeping stealthily to Peter's bed room. On tip-toe he went about the apartment from one object of marvel to another, inspecting each and all with his long arms dangling by his sides, and his eyes staring with wonderment, whilst his open mouth bore the strongest evidence that he examined every thing with the greatest astonishment and admiration. All Billy saw, in that low, long bed chamber, from the skeleton of a full grown man to an unborn babe in a bottle of spirits of wine, filled his thoughts ; he gave a name to every thing, and for want of better authority he 44 THE RIVAL POCTORS. rested content with that of his own imagination and believed with the greatest satisfaction that a brain was a liver, and an enlarged heart a human gizzard, for Billy had often seen the gizzard in a fowl, he therefore logically con- cluded in his own mind that men also owned them, since heads and legs were common to both. So after a time, Billy having settled in his own mind the names of all Peter's treasures and assigned their respective offices, with a contented mind began to fancy himself quite an Esculapius It happened one night that Peter returned home much earlier than he was accustomed to do, and going straight up to his bed room, he there beheld Billy deeply engaged in his studies with his eyes and mouth wide open and his carrotty hair, seeming to participate in his feelings, standing erect on his head : he was so absorbed that his young master's footsteps were unheard by him and consequently un- heeded, till a sharp pull of the ear made him turn suddenly round and utter a fearful yell. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 45 scarcely knowing whether this pain was caused by spiritual or human agency. Peter could not refrain from laughing, and poor Billy stood rubbing his ears, blushing and shifting from one foot to the other. " Well, my fine fellow " said Peter letting go the boy's ear, " how comes it that I find you in my chamber instead of attending to your duties in the shop." Billy stood aghast, unable to utter a word ; and his young master seeing the boy in so terrified a state went on. " Just fancy, now that it is getting dark, if the skeleton had seized you by the ear and dragged you round the room ; or if that mur- derer's skull there," pointing to a skull on the table, " had fastened his teeth in you, what would you have done, eh master Billy?" " I'm not afraid of skulls nor bones neither,'' said Billy looking defiantly at the skeleton. This was said so resolutely, that coming from one usually so sheepish and timid, the young 46 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. surgeon could not restrain his mirth, and he burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Billy, encouraged by his master's merriment, stuck one arm on his hip and the other on his breast, much in the same way that Peter was frequently in the habit of doing, and holding his head erect, said in an almost solemn tone : "I'll tell you what, Mr. Peter, I'm determined I'll do. rU be a doctor." "Be a doctor!'' cried Peter with astonish- ment. " Yes, master, I'll be a doctor !'' " Why Billy, what do you think your mistress will say ?" " I can't tell, master Peter." "She will think I have bitten you,"" and Peter again laughed heartily thus giving the boy greater encouragement to proceed. " I can't help what mistress may think, but I know I'll be a doctor ; that is — I don't mean exactly a doctor,'' and BiUy commenced scratching his head and twisting his long arms about in an extraordinary manner, " but a sort of a kind of a doctor like." THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 47 " A sort of a kind of a doctor like !" repeated Peter " and just please to tell me, my lad, what sort of a kind of an animal that is ? Come out with it, do you mean a horse-doctor?'' "No master, not that." " Well then, a dog doctor?" "No, master, I shouldn't like neither of them," and the boy shuffled about with his legs and commenced biting the nail of one of his parsnip-like fingers. " Well what is it you do mean " cried Peter " come out with it at once, for I cannot stand guessing all night. What sort of a doctor do you mean. Perhaps I could make you one, so look sharp.-' "This was uttered so rapidly that Billy looked quite astonished, and he began twiddling his fingers about his carrotty poll like so many worms in convulsions, and after sundry con- tortions of his eyes and lips, and shutting the former he almost roared out : " Doctor's servant^ please master." Peter's mirth became so boisterous that lie 48 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. was scarcely able to stand, and after Billy's speech, he was actually obliged to sit on the end of his bed and hold his sides, whilst the Esculapius's Esculapius joinedin a dubious roar of laughter not quite able to comprehend the merriment the had called forth. When Peter's paroxysm came to an end the boy said : " I can't abare the dingy old shop, master Peter !'' " You don't like the shop, Billy ?" " No, I can't say I do." ^'Well Pm not much surprised at that. Still after all these years you don't mean to say you will forsake your mistress and leave nie — " " No master Peter, not that neither." ''What then?" " I don't exactly know, sir !*' " Not exactly know," repeated Peter " come don't be an ass ; just tell me what it is yon wish to do. Speak out my lad, I shall not be angry, do you wish to go and live with a surgeon ?" THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 40 *'Xo. not that exactly; but I don't like missus's old dismal shop, and I like you, master Peter.'' "What in the name of heaven is coming next,'' cried the young man after this candid avowal' *' Well then, sir,'' returned Billy, again placing his hands on his hips and putting out first one and then the other of his long legs ; '' if so be, master Peter, that you Avouldn't make no objections, I should like to be your servant when vou leave Doctor Goodwvn's and set up on your own account.*' '' Oh I that's your little game is it, master Billy," said Peter smiling, "Well. I'll see about it." " Thank you, master, thank you ; and you'll just let me know — *' " Yes, ves, let you know, but now be off and shut up the shop.'' Billy shambled off after making a bow to his young master, feeling rather faint and thirsty after thus laying bare his heart and expressing his wishes on so momentous a subject. Vol. I. D. 50 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. The result of this conversation was, Peter promised Billy that, when he left Doctor Goodwyn, he would make him his factotum in the surgery, andtheboy's joy was so great that he scarcely knew how to control his happiness. By degrees, Billy began to talk to his master about some anatomical researches he had made and the conclusions he had come to. Now these conclusions well nigh caused the death of Peter from excess of laughter. However, he did not allow the poor lad to continue in error but explained to him patiently and kindly that men's hearts were not chickens' gizzards, nor that brains were livers, and in course of time, he not only taught Billy to compound medicines, but to become extremely useful. CHAPTER V. The widow Jenkins for a considerable time made a great fuss at these proceedings, and told both master and man that they would not only destroy the stationery business, but bring utter ruin upon themselves, xlfter a time, liowever, she became more reconciled, and at Icnpith found comfort and consolation in a manner which we proceed to show. Peter had, of late, become very irregular in returning to dinner, and upon one particular day was more than four hours beyond his time, but as his mother stood at the shop door rub- bing her hands in an excited manner, when the D. 3. UBRAR^ 52 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. (lock of a neiglibouring cliurch chimed half- past twelve, she observed a little urchin running doAMi the street who put a stop to the evolu- tions she was performing -with her head and eyes, turning them first up and then down the street, by telling her that he came from Dr. Good^vyn's to bid her not wait dinner for her son, as he would be detained some time. The widow was not long in obeying this mandate, immediately returned to her parlour, and was in the act of placing a dish on the table, when she was interrupted by Billy poking his carrotty poll through the open door, saying : — " Please, Mistress, Mr. Hide be in the shop, and wishes to have your receipt for the pay- ment of his bill." " Ask Mr. Hide to walk in, Billy " and the widow left the dish at the fire, to put her apron and cap in order. A heavy step was immediately heard, and Mr. Hide made his appearance in the parlour, as neat as a suit of superfine black cloth, a THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 53 collar white as snow, a smoothly shaved chin, a well soaped face, and a bald head could make him. After the customary salutations were over, the money paid, and a receipt given, the sleek, portly Hide was invited by the A\idow to take her son's place at the table, which he did, with a look of great pleasure, and in a few minutes was attacking vigour- ously the well dressed viands, helping both himself and the widow, with an air of cahn and unmixed enjoyment, giving little time for talk- ing on either side. Dinner over, Mr. Hide betook himself to an easy chair close to the window, and Billy was summoned to clear away the plates and dishes^ which he accomplished wdth alacrity. Then he was desired to get a foaming tankard of ale, to place it near to the puffy visiter, and to go into Peter's room and bring down a pipe and some of his best tobacco ; and after having made all these arrangements to the satisfaction of her visiter, Mrs. Jenkins took herself and her knitting to her easy chair. 54 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. N'umerous were the subjects discussed ; and the widow rested her hands on her knees, her knitting-needle in one hand and her spectacles in the other, as she recounted all the sayings and doings of her son's medical mania, and her fears lest the stationery business should fail. " I can't for the life of me, see what it is that makes Peter like such a disgustingbusiness, Mr. Hide. I sit here hour after hour thinking what will be the end of it, and I see nothing but ruin — '' " No, no, Mrs. Jenkins, let us hope not," said the fat visiter, puffing out his words and the smoke. " Why, the lad's just out of his time, and actually talks of starting in business on his own account. And would you credit it, Mr. Hide, that idiot Billy is bitten with the same mania, and won't keep in the shop, but must needs go after the doctors." " Where does your son intend to reside after his time is up : here or elsewhere ? '' ^' Well, that's one of the things that fidgets THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 55 me so much and makes me so uncomfortable. Would you believe it, Mr. Hide, the boy has actually asked me to give up the shop and go and live mth hun, and says he ^vl\i keep me comfortable out of his earnings. The silly lad, only imagine any one sending for him, pretty dear ! just as if I could give up my shop for this whim of his, the thing's not to be thought of.'' A lengthened pause ensued, the ^\idow look- ing thoughtful and her visiter sagacious as the odoriferous cloud issued from his mouth and nostrils. After awhile Hide replenished and relighted his pipe and said, between the series of short puffs by which he set it going : " ' It is not good for man to live alone,' is an old and a just saying — no, nor for woman neither — nor do young and old agree in all thinsfs — nor do I think — vou — vou would lik c you— y :e to live — with a dissectino:-lovino; suro^eon — even though he should be your own son, Mrs. Jenkins.'' Mr. Hide having delivered himself of these 56 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. words, 2^uflfed more vigourously at his pipe which sent the smoke curling round his face and head so as to ahnost hide his countenance from the widow ; who on her part bent her head and eyes over her knitting, at length she said : "What you say is quite true, Mr. Hide; still I can't make up my mind to thwart the dear boy ; though I know what you have said is quite correct." "Yes, there's no doubt of it; I've been a bachelor all my life '' returned Hide, taking his pipe from his mouth and looking as smirking as possible. " It was a very pleasant life so long as I had youth on my side, but now that I'm getting the ^vrong side of the line, I begin to find my life very lonesome. My house, too, doesn't look neat and tidy like yours, Mrs. Jenkins, the servants tease and annoy me and — and — in fact I feel a lone man — " The widow raised her eyes from her knitting- pins, and began to wonder what Mr. Hide was driving at ; but she made no remark and the THE EIVAL DOCTORS. 57 little man puffed again at his pipe, but after an interval of two or three minutes lie took the pipe from his mouth and leaning his elbows upon the arms of his chair again spoke in a soft, sleepy, tender voice : — '^Now, neighbour Jenkins, it has struck me very forcibly, that, seeing the turn things have made in your family, you might not object to taking a second husband." Another pause and the widow held down her head, perked up her lips, but remained silent. " If so be as I am right," resumed Mr. Hide, •' I think it would not be a bad arrangement for us to make a quiet match of it, and thus Ijccome a comfort to each other in our old age — what do you say to my proposal, Mrs. Jenkins ?'' ''AVell, as I said before, there's a good deal of truth in what you have said. It can't be a pleasant life for a man to be living all alone ; and under all the circumstances I really think we could not do better. We have known eack 58 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. other many years ; aye, and what's more to the purpose, we have respected each other, and that's what not one in a thousand that makes an offer of marriage can say." " You are right, Mrs. Jenkins, and as we both agree not only in what you have said about people resjiecting each other, but in every other matter, we will conclude that it is a bargain, and the sooner we get married the better.'' "Well, Mr. Hide, I quite agree with you, now that we have both made up our minds, the sooner the matter is concluded the better; — but," continued the widow after a short pause " I am puzzled as to what is to be done with the shop ? " " Oh, you need give yourself no thought about that, for I've plenty for both of us ; and there will be no necessity for you keeping shop any longer. So you see, my dear Mrs. Hide " and the old gentleman gave a pleasing smile at his neighbour, " Mrs. Jenkins, I mean, I feel quite certain we shall get on very pleasantly together." THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 59 ^'Xo doubt of that " said the widow " and I think the best thing you can do, would be to come and dwell here, for your house is not one of the largest in the world, and although com- fortable enough for a single man, not con- venient for a family." Mr. Hide laughed : and the widow imme- diately resumed. '' You may laugh, neighbour, but I didn't mean exactly what you imagined my words implied ; I only — " " Meant what is quite ricrht, that this house is a more convenient one than the nut-shell of a place in which I have been living. I will come here, and we can make over my present abode to your son. Peter will find it just the place for a beginner. It is the very situation for a surgeon, plenty of noise and bustle and an increasing thoroughfare — What say you to mv suo^orestion ? " " I think it an excellent one, and I hope the dear boy will readily fall in with our views,'' and these two talked over all their plans and settled every preliminary before Peter's return. 60 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. We are bound also to add, that Hide had shifted his position and taken the chair close to the one Mrs. Jenkins was sitting on, and had just set his seal to the bargain by something sounding very like a kiss, as Peter hurriedly entered the parlour. ^' Hallo!'' cried the youth "that sounded uncommonly like a kiss; are you making love to my mother, Mr. Hide ? " Both the widow and the bachelor seemed taken aback and neither spoke. " Well, all I hope, if it be as I suspect, she has not been cruel — " '' No, that she has not, Peter." In less than ten minutes the youthful surgeon was made acquainted with every thing that had passed, and most readily agreed to fall into all their views. Before a month had passed, Mr. Hide had taken possession both of the widow and her house, and the ncAvly married couple settled down as quietly and comfortably as if they liad been united for years. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 61 The shop and its contents had been disposed of, the former having been added to the parlour. Peter and his assistant Billy had also been established in Mr. Hide's former residence. Billy, by the way, it may as well be told, was completely metamorphosed, having been under the hands of Peter's tailor and was arrayed in a tolerably well-fitting suit of brown broadcloth, and as he strutted along felt " every inch a doctor " though only a doctor s man. Some time before these occurrences took place, Jim Brewster had established himself in a small house not very far from the one Peter inhabited. His ugly body had been cased in a dark brown suit, and his hair had been cropped close, very much resembling a scrubbins: brush, which he crowned with a cloth skull-cap, and his sour countenance aided him very much in giving a thoroughly methodistical look to his whole appearance. He was soon patronised by the dissenters of every denomination, who looked upon Jim Brewster as a very promising young 62 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. man, and felt perfectly at ease, that their sons and daughters Avere in no danger of pollution from employing so demure, so ill-looking, and so uncouth a personage. Peter Jenkins was the direct opposite to Jim Brewster, he was dressed in the height of fashion, his well made suit, his gay air, his firm step, erect carriage, his cleanliness and boldness were well contrasted with Brewster's shabby hypocrisy. Peter became a favorite everyr^diere, and had a prospect of obtaining a fashionable practice amongst gentlemen and church-going people, and the fast young men of the day. How these rival doctors succeeded the sequel must show. CHAPTER VL This world of ours is constantly undergoing changes, and though at the period of our story these changes were not so rapid as they are now, time— the ever rolling time altered all things. As one of the privileges of a writer is to annihilate time and space, as may suit his fancy, we wave our wand and make a consi- derable hiatus l)etween the last and the present chapter, we skip over many years, leaving the world and its chances and changes to its own fate, excepting that we may as well mention, the fact, that fat Mr. Hide, his wife and pussy-cat had all departed this 64 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. life. Poor puss went first ^' much regretted by the flnnily circle." Mr. Hide was the next, and finally Mrs. Hide was placed beside her second husband by her son Peter, who shed many tears of regret at her loss, always remem- bering that she had been a tender nurse in his infancy, and a loving mother in his youth and manhood. Time rolled on and Brewster and Jenkins became eminent in their profession; Jim still adhering to the methodist party and Peter to the gay church-going protestants — for, at the period of our tale, though the state was not split up into so many sections, there existed dissension enough to make Old Nick caper with delight, and wag his tail with joy at the excesses, and the little delicate debaucheries of lords and ladies, as well as the hypocrisies of the more demure looking of his flock ! and he busily aided them in all their plans and brought their guilt to bear, and whenever their souls left their frail tenements, their evil genius stood by and pounced on them a sa terrier dog would a rat when turned out of a trap. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. G5 The rival doctors were becoming: more known and more reno^vned every day. Their reputations were equal, but themselves as unequal as ever, or if possible more so. Dr. Brewster retained the same disres^ard for his dress and personal appearance, still maintained his demure looks, and was the pet doctor of the sanctimonious party ; no baby could be born without him, no precise or formal limb could be amputated without him, not one of the sanctified looking people could die without him, in fact he was all in all to "the elect" as they then and still term themselves. Brewster fagged day and night, and the money poured into his coffers as the steel to the mag- net, and stuck as fast, for "Blue Jim '' hoarded his treasures, ate and drank sparingly, dressed shabbily, almost disgracefully, went from patient to patient on foot till his increasing practice compelled him to use other legs than his own, and a horse, lean as its owner, carried him from house to house in a trot good for his master's sluggish liver, serving him in the place of the blue pill. 66 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. It was really a splendid sight to behold " Blue Jim " perched on his lean horse ; to see his long body bent forward, much in the same way as when he rode the milkmaid's cow, his toes turned out, his legs encased in rusty boots, his long arms flapping, his hat resting on the bridge of his nose, and his cloak floating in the breeze. It was a treat too, to seehim with his patients, so demure, so laconic, his sly eyes look- * ing at his feet, and now and then venturing a glance at some pretty quaker-like damsel, as he felt her pulse beat beneath his thongs of fingers, asthe milk-maid styled them, causing his hypo- critical arteries to beat double time to theirs, as with a gentle pressure he would resign the delicate little wrist and say slowly : , " I will send you something that will benefit your health." To tell the truth, Brewster kept his evil eye on all his pretty patients, and he also kept his own counsel, contriving to insinuate himself into the confidence of most of the families he blistered and physicked. He took stock of THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 67 those whose money bags were considered weighty, and he bethought himself that it would add to his wealth, if not to his respec- ability and happiness, if he took to himself a wife, and after canvassing the pros and cons he fixed upon a quaker spinster to become Mrs. Brewster. Her father had been a usurious old miser, and dying had left his only daughter a considerable fortune. She lived a life of seclusion and, like her sire, had gone on in- creasing her wealth. Ai'tvY many visits, he one evening put his arm round her waist ai d whispered : " Mistress Bridget, I love you, will you be mine r " Yes," replied the old damsel with a nasal twang, and in less than a month they were joined in the matrimonial noose. She soon discovered that she had not dra^vn a prize, and for three years led a cat and dog life, the poor woman having to bear the frequent ebullitions of her husband's bilious temperament. His brutal conduct so terrified and dispirited her^ 68 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. that, afraid to complain of neglect, she gladly welcomed the joyful tidings when told that she had but few days to live, and that she should soon be where her tyrant had no power. When her mortal remains were carried from beneath Brewster's dark doorway, that worthy was seen with a large white handkerchief to his eyes, from which he never ventured to take it, except to see that she was safely deposited in the grave. He was many years her junior, and he felt he had made a great sacrifice, in fact frittered away three years of his youth. 'The old woman's money " he said to himself, as he sat in his easy chair the evening after the funeral, " has been hardly earned by three years' annoyance.*' He thought nothing of having made those three years a hell upon earth to his poor victim. Time rolled on, and Brewster continued to leech and bleed and blister his demure patients, and while he had been all the rage among the saints, Peter Jenkins had been employed by all THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 69 the fasliionable and gay people of the metro- polis. True, his practice was not so extensive as his rival's, but it was quite as firmly established. His great skill in his profession, his frank, unafiected manner, his gaiete de cceur^ his courtesy and affability made him a number of friends in the world. He had no desire to amass wealth for the mere pleasure of hoarding it. His gi^eat desire was to acquire fame, not fame in the common acceptation of the word, but the fame of doing all the good it was pos- sible for him to do in alleviating the pains and sufferings of his fellow creatures by his pro- fessional skill. During the lifetime of his mother and his step-father he had done his best to conform to their ways and to humour their whims ; but now that thev were no lon^rer affected bv his actions, he followed the bent of his own incli- nations and, we may add, of his genius. He dressed fashionably but not in the extreme ; he rode a splendid horse and cut a very dashing 70 THE RIVAL DOCTOKS. if not imposing appearance. He was, however, extremely prudent and careful in liis mode of living ; he made no addition to his estab- lishment till his professional fame fully justified his doing so, by an increased and increasino; income. He was careful not to spend his money lavishly, but he did not hoard it. With the gay young fellows about the court he was "merry and wise,'' he was com- passionate and firm, he was clever and unpre- tending, and moreover, in the eyes of fashion- able spinsters, he was considered extremely handsome and unpresuming, Peter had become tlie Doctor of the day, and his advice and skill Avas anxiously sought by all ^Trades of societv, but to none did he bestow more anxious and unremmitting attention than to his poorer fellow creatures. He kept three horses, and had given Billy an assistant in his laborious duties, for Billy had won not only the good opinion, but the esteem of his master, by his faithful services. Hitherto Jenkins had thouo^ht of nothino; THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 71 l)ut his professional duties — but now he began to think it hio^h time he should be lookinof around him for a wife. He had had, it is true, ver}' few flirtations with the fair sex, but his heart had never been seriously touched. Like all young men he had been gallant, but his gallantry had never induced in his heart any tenderer feeling than the pleasure of the passing hour. Devotion and love were yet to come. Brewster, equally rich if not richer than his fancied rival, was nevertheless envious at the success Jenkins was daily achieving, though that success by no means interfered with his practice. One day, it happened that they met when on their round of visits to their numerous patients, androde together down several streets, tlie pavement clattering beneath their horses' hoofs, the beasts forming as great a contrast to each other as their riders. Brewster's lean animal stretched forth his scraggy neck, and wa"-"-ed his stump of a tail bearing his master, 72 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. with liis sinister looks and threadbare ill-fitting garments, whilst Jenkins' horse sleek and sound arched his neck proudly and pawed the ground as he went, his master sitting erect holding the rein lightly with one hand the other placed on his thigh. " How is it, Jenkins '' asked Brewster " that you can pander to the whims and vices of those proud gay jackanapes of men and women you attend ? '' " That is just what I do not do, my friend,'' replied Jenkins. " I treat them courteously, as becomes my position and theirs, and more- over I do my best to relieve their pains and cure their complaints ; but as to pandering to either their whims or their vices that I never do, and what is more I never will." Brewster bent forward and patted the scraggy neck of his horse. " I wonder you can bear, with anything like patience, wdth those fine ladies." Jenkins smiled facetiously as he said, ^' Some fine ladies are sensible and elegant in their THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 78 manners and not to be despised. I am liappy so say I stand well with many of tliem, and intend to do my best to continue to please." " Your practice is scarcely reputable, I should think." " Not reputable !" cried Jenkins, " why I number among my patients many of the best people in London, and they like me. I do not wish to brag, Brewster, but I reckon that some of the best of our nobility, males and females, are on my visiting list." '' So they may be, and the more's the pity,'* said Brewster, his hitherto soft voice turning for once somewhat acrid " for don't you see, m}^ I'riend, that they are the least worthy portions of society, a parcel of swearers, drinkers, rakes and libertines ! a worthy selection for you to have made truly," and the speaker sneered with a sardonic grin on his countenance. " Hallo ! Brewster," cried Peter, turning suddenly round upon his companion, '^ what's in the wind now ; what's the matter man, eh?'' '^ Nothing " said Brewster, and giving his Vol, I. E. 74 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. horse a sharp touch with the heel of his boot, he increased his paoe, whilst Jenkins' high bred animal cantered by his side. Coming to the gates of a large, heavy, dull, and gloomy looking house, Brewster pulled up and Jenkins did the like. ^'Are you going into that dismal hole," asked Jenkins. ^' Yes," was the laconic answer of Brewster, as he dismounted and rang the bell at the gate, and without confronting his rival, bade him good afternoon. " Good day," rejoined Jenkins raising his hat, and bowing courteously he cantered briskly off. Brewster gnashed his teeth and scowled demoniacally exclaiming '*. silly fool.'' CHAPTER VII. One liot sultry Sunday evening in the month of July, when the streets looked dry and parched, and the inhabitants, such as were out, walked lazily and languidly along, Jenkins, who had been paying a professional visit to a gouty lord oppressed both by the heat of the weather and the quantity of port wine he had indulged in was suffering greatly, was on his way home on foot, and was passing the doors of a chapel, througli which was pouring a stream of grave looking elders both male and female, and a few young people whose faces though serious gave indi- E. 2. 76 THE KIVAL DOCTORS. cation that they were not disinclined to smile occasionally, as they eyed the young doctor who was passing them carelessly switching his cane. He stopped to allow a lumbering, heavy coach to pass, and as he did so three other per- sons followed his example. He had seen them leave the chapel and now they stood by his side ; a tall, square, strong looking man, apparently between sixty and seventy years of age, gave one arm to a thin-visaged, high-cheeked, sour- looking lady of about forty, whose countenance betrayed evidence of a discontented, snarling disposition, andthe otherto ayounger and fairer lady, a small, slightly made, delicate creature of twenty or thereabouts, whose refined features accorded admirably with the soft pink of her cheeks, and whose eyes timidly but only half raised became entirely abased as the young doctor, next to whom she stood, fixed his upon her for a moment in evident admiration, until observing her face suffused Avith blushes he withdrew them, reproaching himself for THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 77 having caused embarrassment to one so shrink- ing and modest. The lumbering old vehicle passed and the three dissenters crossed the road followed by Jenkins. The old man walked on with long firm strides, the sour looking woman shuffled by his side with steps imitating his own, whilst the object of Peter's admiration was dragged along like a little child and forced to keep pace A\ith the others by a number of quick steps, with now and then a sort of half-run, and occasionally a little hop, so prettily executed that the young man would have followed had it been from one end of London to the other. He considered himself rather a connoisseur of feet and ankles and he more than once exclaimed almost loud enough to be heard by passers near him " Upon my life, I don't know when I've seen such lovely ankles.'' The young lady had two tolerably sized books in her hand, as well as a pocket-handker- chief, which appeared to give her no incon- siderable amount of trouble, and Peter thought ib THE RIVAL DOCTORS. how gladly he would have relieved her of her burden had he been permitted. ^' What an old brute that man must be " he soliloquised "to allow that sweet young creature to carry such a load. The old mother, too, ought to be ashamed of herself, if anything could shame such an ugly, vinegar-looking old tigress — ^by jove ! she dashes along with a race-horse speed, that's enough to dislocate those lovely little ankles. Peter had kept his eyes fixed on the girl's feet and just at this moment the smaller book of the two slipt, unperceived by her, and rolled on to the dusty pavement. Like light- ning, Peter pounced upon it and instantly opened it to see if he could find the name of its charming owner ; he was, however, disap- pointed, for no name was to be found. Whilst he had been thus engaged the three persons he had followed had turned into a narrow private street. The young doctor hurried on, and coming up with the party, and making one of his THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 79 courtly bows, indeed such as he would have made when going into the presence of the highest person in the land, he presented the book to the young lady who had dropped it, and in doing so, he gracefully took off his hat. The old man and the sour looking lady by his side looked sharply at Peter, not at all admiring his easy manners or his fashionable appearance. The former merely saying, in no very courteous voice "thank you, thank you,'' and on he strode again. The young lady had only time to iterate "I am much obliged" as she was di-agged on by the old gentleman's side. Peter continued to follow to the end of the street, where, sto23ping before a high narrow house, the old man took a key from his pocket and opening the door, the two ladies walked in, and he followed, closing the door after him. Peter took on accurate survey of the house, which was one of those tall buildings with one .story overlapping another, such as are still to he seen in Chester and Coventry and some £i^w 80 THE EIVAL DOCTORS. Streets in the City. After a careful scrutiny he wended his way to his own home. In a back room of his house, he found Billy spreading a plaster with an air of considerable consequence and much assiduity, very edif}ing to behold. Jenkins ensconced himself in an easy chair, throwing his hat on a table and putting his walking cane on the window seat ; he unbuttoned his waistcoat for he felt exceed- ingly warm, and crossing his legs he sat quietly watching Billy operating upon the plaster, his mouth wide open and his carotty hair standing almost erect, but although Peter Avas watching Billy, his thoughts were with the pretty young lady, whom he still followed in imagination admirhig her pretty feet and ankles, and in this pleasant sort of day dream he continued till Billy had perfected his plaster and stood look- ing at his handy work with the same pleasure as a sculptor would have contemplated the statue he had just finished. " Who is that plaster for ? '' Peter at length asked somewhat lazil}\ THE RIVAL DOCTOKS. 81 " Why this one be for old Lady Grey" replied Billy, "and that one be for Lord Carrington, t'other for Sir William Bruce/' he continued pointing to several others. " Were those draughts sent ? " "Yes, master, they wor ; and I'll send them beautiful plasters off as soon as ever the boy gets back." " It's a fine evening Billy " said Peter " and I think it will do you good to get a little fresh air, so you may as well take them yourself, a walk will give you pleasure.'' " Thank you, master, I think it will," and Billy put his plasters into separate papers and prepared to depart. " Just get me some wine and a glass before you go for I am both tired and thirsty.'' The wine and glass were brought, and Billy took up the plasters and left the room, but ere he could close the door his master called him back, saying : " Let me see, Billy, if I mistake not you Avill 82 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. pass the end of Lime Street on your way back from Sir AYilliam Bruce's." ^^ Yes surely, master.'' " Well tlieUj I wish you would turn down Lime Street and try to find out who it is lives in the last house but two. It's one of those high houses built in the old fashion." " Yes, master, but is it on the right hand side or the left in the street ? '' " Oh it's on the right, the same side of the way as the church." Away went Billy leaving his master to enjoy his ■\^ine and a sleep. He took the wine sparingly ; but he slept till it w^as quite dark, and was only aroused when Billy returned and stood before him with a lighted candle flickering in the gentle breeze coming through the open window. " Well,'' said Peter, yawning and stretching both arms and legs and rubbing his eyes *^ did you find out who lived in the house I described to you in Lime street." '' Yes, master, to be sure— but I think I had THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 83 better shut the window for fear you should catch cold/' said Billy ' I met Dr. Brewster's man and we walked on together, and where should he be going but to the very house you talked to me about. ' AVho lives in this ere house ?' says I. ' Oh ! one of my master's patients,' says he. ' I be going in ^^dth some physic' ^ Oh ! says I, what maybe the name of your master's patient ? ' ' His name is Silverton,' says he, 'a good pious man.' 'A chapel goer I suppose,' says I, and the dooi- being opened Thomas walked in and wishing each other good evening we parted and that was aU." '^ Silverton ! Silverton !" repeated Peter, ^' the name is not unknown to me, but 1 dou t recollect for the moment where I have heard it ; but no matter, you can get }'our supper, Billy, and be off to bed, only leave me the lighted candle."' Billy left the candle and departed and his master continued in a Yiiry dreamy state for full two hours, his whole thouo^hts ensjrossed 84 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. l3y the pretty young lady and her lovely feet and ankles. Day after day the young doctor rode past the house occupied by Mr. Silverton and his lovely charge, and looked at every window but did not get a glimpse of the face of either old or young. After a time he rode up the street twice and sometimes thrice each day, and at length was fortunate enough, on looking up from beneath the brim of his hat, to behold the object of his admiration sitting near one of the '^^^.ndows, with a book in her hand, which she was intently reading. Peter's heart beat with increased pleasure, as he saw her white throat, and her beautiful hair braided over her fore- head, and her delicate small hand on which her cheek rested. The lady, however, gave no sio'n of seeino; either the doctor or anvthino; else beyond the book she Avas reading. Xot many days elapsed before Peter encoun- rered the young lady walking doT\TL the street, arm in arm with old Mr. Silverton, and drawing nnnself up to his full height, he cantered past TILE RIVAL DOCTORS. 85 them in his best style, causing the lady's eyes to rest upon him as well as upon his high mettled prancing hoi^e. As each sunday came round Dr.. Jenkins was sure to be passing a particular chapel at the ver}^ moment when the congregation was leaving it, and he always contrived to follow Silverton and his party to the street leading to theu^ house. x\t length to the amazement of the sober minded and soberly dressed con- gregation the fashionable physician became a constant attendant at the evening services. That sly god, Cupid, had let iiy his arrow at the heart of Peter, causing a passionate love to take firm root in it, and he determined that the beautiful and innocent looking young lady should sooner or later becomu Mrs. Peter Jenkins. Thus passed three or four months, Peter making no nearer advances beyond his increasing admiration of the lady's general appearance her pretty foot and ankle in })articular, which state of affairs, pleasant, as 86 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. it no doubt was at iirst, after a time became exceedingly unsatisfactory, and at length lie deemed it absolutely requisite that he should make the acquaintance of the lady, if, as he intended, she should be wooed and won. This determination, however, was more easily planned than accomplished. He j^uzzled his brain day after day, and we may ahnost say hour after hour, — for his love for the young beauty had become an absorbing passion, — how to introduce himself to Mr. Silverton's family. That he would do so he had made up his mind, and having once determined, Peter was too energetic to let the matter rest. For the hrst time in his life, Jenkins envied Brewster, who, as Silverton's medical attendant, had free access to the house. One fine morning as our hero was walking alono- the street in Avhich his rival lived, to his delight he saw Brewster's lanky nag fastened to a ring in the door post. He made towards the sorry looking animal and began patting his sides and counting its ribs, determined to w^ait THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 87 till its master came forth, who he strongly sus- pected was going to pay a professional visit to old Silverton ; and so it proved. Brewster and Jenkins passed the usual complimentary expressions on meeting, and the former taking the rusty rein in his hand, passed his arm through it and walked on followed by the equestrian anatomy and Jenkins. "Where are you going this morning?'' enquired Peter. " First to visit a patient in the next street, Mr. Silverton " returned Brewster. " I don't remember having heard the name of Silverton ; who is he ? " '^ A very worthy gentleman of good standing in society.'' "Is he old or young ? '' " Upwards of sixty '' replied Brewster tugging at the rein of his slow-paced horse bv way of quickening his movements. " Bye the bye, — Silverton ! — Silverton ! — now I think of the name, I must have heard 88 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. it before. Has he not a son in Parliament ? " asked Peter, not knowing if he had a son or not. '' He has no son," "Oh! a bachelor?" " No.'' " Married ; with a host of daughters I suppose " laughed Peter. Brewster did not reply to this question, for at the moment, a solemn looking quaker passed and bowed to him. Peter renewed the conversation. " How many daughters has this old gentleman ? Daughters, and no son, that's not quite right Brewster." " He has no daughters." " Only one.'* " Well, he has not done much for his country or the medical profession." '' What's his daughter's name ? " " I don't know." " Is she old or young ; married or single : THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 89 iigl}' or beautiful ? you can tell me that I suppose." '' No, I can't." The two men walked some short distance in silence, and Peter began to think he had not gained much information from his companion. He resolved however, to try again, so he asked : " Does Mr. Silverton live in London all the year f ^ No." " Oh, I suppose he goes occasionally to the sea side?" " I can't say.'' '' In what month does he generally leave London ? " "I don't know.'' " Where does he go to ? " '^ Into the country." " Yes, but to what part of the country, that's what I ask." "To his country house." Jenkins muttered something, but in so low and indistinct a tone as not to be heard by 00 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Brewster, a something which was anything but complimentary, and ere he had turned over in his mind in what way he could renew his attack. Brewster drew up his bridle, the lean, lanky horse stopped and Peter stopping also perceived that all three had halted before Mr. Silverton's house. Brewster rang the bell, and on the instant the door was opened by a servant — behind whom ap23eared Peter's divinity. " Good morning doctor " she said, holding out her hand to Brewster ; whilst her eyes, looking beyond him, caught Peter's fixed intently on her. " Good morning'' said Brewster in a sort of soft snuffle, " you will not leave before we have seen my patient together." So saying, he demurely drew her arm through his and they went into the house leaving Jenkins to make the best of his way whithersoever his inclination or business led him. Jenkins was not well pleased with Brewster's THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 91 method of accosting the young lady, and he turned away in double quick time and fretted and fumed as the smooth tones of his rival continued to vibrate in his ears ; and as he re- called the apparent care with which he led her into the house, and the short terse answers he had received to his questions all annoyed, him. " There's one comfort however," argued Jenkins as he passed along the corridor of one of his patient's houses. ' Blue Skin ' may do the gallant to her in his sneaking way ; but so lovely a creature can't for a moment have the slightest liking for such a meagre, half-starved looking wretch as he is. Upon my life he is only fit to put in the fields to scare away the crows. No, no, she shall be mine ! '' and at that moment he cauo;ht sio^ht of his handsome self in a glass and smiled at the contrast he presented to the picture he had just been recalling in imagination. He was not vain, but Peter thought he stood more chance of winning woman's love than his unamiable rival. This was no time for dreaming ; now 92 THE KIVAL DOCTORS. he must act, and when he entered his patient's room, he put aside his love, and devoting himself to Esculapius's guidance left that of Cupid, till he again entered the busy crowded streets. CHAPTER VIII. The winter passed, the spring passed, summer had commenced, and with it came the hay -making season, and all the air in the envi- rons of London was redolent of hay, the mea- dows were full of labourers, and Peter Jenkins' heart was more full of love than ever ; he could rest neither day nor night, a good deal of his time being occupied in walking and riding up and down the street, where his goddess resided. All at once he made the discovery that the family had left London. In vain Peter tried to discover where they had fled. He asked 94 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Brewster but the wary doctor kept his own counsel and poor Jenkins had the satisfaction of thinking that his rival had his private designs upon the lady ; still he was not without hope, though he very often sighed, and when in the silence of his own bed-chamber frequently soliloquised in this fashion. " Perhaps she loves the ugly bear I women are such strange creatures ! — Pish ! it cannot be. No, no, such a lovely, innocent woman could not throw away her affections upon such an unloveable object." This pleasing picture was constantly before his mind's eye whether by night or by day, and one very hot afternoon^ he became so i-estless at home, that he started off to ride through divers gi'een lanes and by the side of fields in the vicinity of London. The air was very sultry, the roads extremely dusty,, and the sun shone with all its brightness and all its fierce heat. Jenkins loosened the rein and his horse fell into a walk, tossing its liead from time to time as it snuffed up the THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 95 dust Avliic'h its own steps created, Avhilst its master pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes to shade them from the intensity of the sun's rays, took first one foot and then the other from the stirrups, and on approaching a meadow where the grass had just been cut, he turned one leg over the saddle, sat lady fashion and commenced humming a popular melody, gazing about him first to the right then to the left on the range of meadows around, some of w^hich had been shorn of their long green grass and left in solitude, others only half despoiled, some looking like a sea of pale-green billows, as the grass lay in long lines from end to end, whilst others were covered with hay- cocks, waggons, labourers, women and children and even dogs, all apparently very merry, whether at work or play. Many were tlie stolen kisses in those meadows ; many were the feastino-s in the cool of the evenino:, after work was over, and loud and mirthful was the laughter when every noAV and then a pretty sprightly lass would come stealthily behind a 96 THE RIVAL DOCTORS^. labourer push hhn into the midst of a hay- cock and bemn smotherino; him with the fragrant hay. The rider left the road and turned doAvn one of the lanes beside a high bank that des- cended steep into a field of considerable extent, and at the bottom of which Avas a deep ditch. He reined up hi» horse under a wide spreading tree, the branches of which shielded him from the sun-— took off his hat and enjoyed the lifjht refreshino; breeze that came from the open country. Suddenly he left off singing, as his eyes became intently fixed upon a group of j)ersons sittino; under the shade of some hio^h tufted trees in the centre of the field, who were watch- ing the labourers filling the waggons to carry home the sweet scented hay. His heart instantly throbbed Avith joy as he exclaimed " I cannot be mistaken — it can be no other — it certainly is. — " And sure enough there sat old Silverton beneath the wide spreading tree beside the THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 97 elderly lady, and oh ! happiness ! there also sat the young lady, the one so long, vainly sought. For a considerable time, Peter remained under the oak that sheltered him, forgetting London patients, fears, in fact everything but the group upon which he so intently gazed. His horse seemed to participate in the enjoy- ment, for he cropped the long grass and weeds at the root of the tree, and neither master nor steed foimd fault \™h their respective occupa- tions. Suddenly the laughing voices of the lads and lasses, and in fact of the whole merry- making party, became hushed, and the active assemblage were seen runninof towards one particular spot, leaving the horses to take care of themselves. Jenkins had been so absorbed that this universal movement had been un- noticed by him, till he saw old Silverton and the tsvo ladies leave their seats, and, despite the blazing heat of the sun, go towards the crowd collected round a huge haycock. Then Vol. I. F. 98 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. it was, and not till then, that he gave the slightest heed to what was going on. The stooping attitudes of some, the stretching forth of necks of others, the interest shown by all, and the complete hush of the many voices, led him to imagine that some accident had happened. The crowd separated to receive Mr. Silverton and his companions, and having done so again closed, hiding them from his view. " Now is my time " thought Peter, " now is my opportunity ; accident or no accident, the supposition that one has taken place will fully excuse my approaching the spot, and this may lead to the fulfilment of all my ardent wishes. Without another moment's thought or hesitation Peter reined up and put spur to his horse^ which no doubt quite disapproved of such a sudden finish to the sweet meal he had been cropping. However, he was too well bred to disobey ; as if aware of his master s impatience he dashed down the steep bank, leapt the wide ditch, and gallopped at his THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 99 Utmost speed towards the only spot on earth his rider at the moment cared for. As the clattering feet of the horse approached the group, all heads were turned. "What is the matter?" asked Jenkins, as soon as his horse stopped. The men and women, and the boys and girls all stared at him with open mouths and eyes, but no one replied to his enquiry. " Has there been an accident ? " again asked Peter. " Yes — yes — yes — " was uttered by numer- ous voices. Jenkins dismounted and giving the bridle to one of the men, pushed his way towards the centre of the group, where he discovered that a labourer, who had imbibed a great deal too much beer, had thrown himself upon a haycock for the purpose of taking a nap. Unfortunately a scythe had been placed undei* the haycock and the poor fellow received a terrible gash in the leg. He had cried out ; but his voice had not been heard for some F. 3. 100 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. time, ; when it was heard, all the people ran to ascertain the cause of the man's piteous cries, but not one out of the number knew in what way to proceed to alleviate his sufferings. Jenkins saw at a glance the wound required prompt and skilful attention and went over to where old Silverton was standing, and politely and concisely proffered his services, which were thankfully accepted. The blood was running rapidly in jerks from the poor man's wound, the grass was saturated and tinted with the crimson stream. "Poor fellow!'' said Mr. Silverton, "it seems to be a bad wound." "Yes" answered Peter, "he has divided an artery." " Can I help you? '' asked Silverton. " Yes " returned Jenkins, " I shall be glad of your assistance." So saying, Peter set to work to repair the mischief, old Silverton assisting him. The two ladies left tKe spot, the younger apparently quite faint at the sickening scene THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 101 presented to her sight by the flow of blood on a white pocket handkerchief which she had given to Silverton for Peter's use in place of a bandao^e, and which the skilful suro-eon received in silence, but acknowledged by a gi^aceful bow. Silvertcn and Jenkins were soon left almost alone, for the people all seemed glad to leave the spot ; so the surgeon and his willing assistant proceeded with their work of charity. Havino; finished their o-ood offices, Silverton returned to the ladies, and Peter, having seen the sufi'erer safely deposited on a hurdle, with a quantity of hay for a mattrass, and conveyed to his OA\Ti cottage, again joined Silverton and the two ladies. They were just leaving the field, and the former invited Jenkins to return with them to his house, a large cool-looking, old fashioned abode, which stood under the shelter of some magnificent trees, whose leaves were gently rustling in the light breeze. Jenkins gladly and joyfully accepted the invitation, and gave his horse to one of the 102 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. farm labourers to conduct to the stable. Friendly relations were soon established by the little party in the long and somewhat low parlour. Jenkins's frank, kind manners won for him easy access to the good vnM of the whole family. Mr. Silverton was a mild, cheerful old man, who smiled at all Peter's wit- ticisms, and very soon looked upon him with especial favour and good will, certainly not recognising in his visiter the chief actor in the trifling adventure of the dropt hymn book. Not so the younger lady whose memory was more tenacious, and who looked at him under her long eyelashes with a mixture of pleasure and curiosity, whilst the elder soon became so absorbed in her own reflections that she seemed to ignore his presence altogether, and took not the slightest notice. Peter's handsome face obtained additional beauty from the great happiness he felt in being so near the object of his love ; and the same cause gave an additional brilliancy to his wit. She listened modestly and cheerfully to THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 103 all he said and joined her gentle laugh to the more hearty outbursts of himself and old Silverton. Peter was in the seventh heaven, he felt a degree of happiness such as he had never before experienced. After spending a couple of hours which seemed to him little more than as many minutes, Peter rose to depart, checking his merry laugh with something very like a sigh. " No, no," said the host, " I cannot allow you to leave so soon. You must stay and take your supper with us. It vdW be a bright moonlight night, and you can ride home by its light. Mabel, my darling," he continued turning to the younger of the two ladies, "tell the servants to hasten the supper, for I cannot allow ' the good Samaritan ' to depart without testing our hospitality : no, no, pray, sir, sit down again. '^ So saying Silverton pointed to the chair his guest had vacated, at the same time settling himself comfortably in his own, whilst Mabel, left the room to hasten the supper. Peter 104 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. once more resumed his seat not merely quite resigned, but overjoyed to pass a few more hours under that roof. However quickly the minutes and hours seemed to have passed, these latter appeared to go with lightning speed. The supper over, the candles^ lighted within, the moon calmly shining without, at an hour somewhat later, Peter made a second effort, rose and asked if his horse might be saddled and brought to the door. ^' Well, well ! " said Mr. Silverton, taking Peter's hand in his and shaking it heartily, " I suppose we must not try to detain you any longer to-night ; but come again — come again, and soon; you will always find a hearty welcome in spite of your fashionable appear- ance; but never mind looks, your heart is good, and you are good, and that is the main point ; so come again and soon.'' " That I will with my whole heart, sir '' replied Jenkins ; and disengaging his hand from the old man's grasp, he bowed to the two THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 105 ladies and departed ^vith light and joyous feelings. The wind was coolly blowing, the moon, high and clear, sailed amid the stars, the frag- rant smell of hay was wafted around, and the glowworm glittered in the hedges. Peter's horse seemed to partake of his master's feelings ; and having been refreshed by a good feed of corn in a snug stable, the spirited animal pranced along the lanes and over the dusty roads in an exhilarating manner, whilst his rider whistled and sang alternately snatches of love songs till he reached London, when, as his horses' hoofs clattered over the stones in the hot,, narrow, close streets, his ditty ceased and ere many minutes had elapsed, he found him- self at his o^\Ti door. Ringing the bell, Billy made his appearance, apparently having been woke up from a pleasant sleep, and the groom having taken the horse, Peter began to ascend the stairs leading to his own room. " Wait a bit, master " said Billy shambUng after him, " old Lady Bristow's ever so much F. 5. 106 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. worse and has sent twice for you : and Sir John Teesdale wants you ; and some strange man has been here twice wanting you to go and set a broken leg. I thought of going with him myself to try my hand, but he swore like a trooper, and said he would go for Doctor Brewster.'^ " Oh ! '' returned Peter, "bring me a pair of clean boots and give my clothes a brush down, for the roads were very dusty. I will give my hands and face a little water, and be with you in the twinkling of an eye, Billy." Accordingly having washed his face and hands, combed his hair and submitted to Billy's brushing, he sallied forth into the silent and deserted streets and thoroughfares. He did not return from his patients till day was slowly and lazily dawning on the great city, lifT^htino^ rakes to bed, and labourers to their daily toil. Many a half-tipsy man with swollen features and inflamed eyes did he meet i-olling or staggering, or keeping a pace be- tween the sober and the drunk. Some were THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 107 singing, some swearing fearful oaths, some mutterinor half aloud, and others maintainino; a dignified silence, broken only by a hickup, their eyes fixed resolutely on the way before them, each and all, however much they varied, only so many modifications of the obscene, the ridiculous and the disgusting. CHAPTER IX. The following day Peter Jenkins was not satisfied until he had gallopped off to see the poor labourer ; and having carefully examined the wound, and ascertained that the case was progressing satisfactorily, he bethought him that it would only be an act of courtesy to communicate the glad tidings to his newly acquired friend, Silverton. Consequently it was not long ere the young surgeon again found himself in the large parlour, giving an account to his host and Mabel of the state of the patient. These visits were repeated from dav to dav, and Jenkins and the old man THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 109 talked and laughed, and Mabel worked and listened, occasionally joining in the conversa- tion, as the opportunity occurred, till Peter's heart became more and more her own ; whilst the elder female either read to herself moodily, or did not join the party. Peter in his ardour and happiness never dreamt of asking himself whether Mabel would love him in return, in fact, he took it for granted that such intense affection as his was could not meet with disdain or ingratitude. Meanwhile, the poor labourer recovered, as people will occasionally do, very mal-a-projjos, and he could no longer serve as an excuse for his doctor's visits at Silverton's ; and Peter very plainly saw, that although he had estab- lished a footing, he could not visit there so frequently as when he had a good pretext for appearing in the long, low parlour. Whenever Peter abstained a day from paying a visit to Silverton, or rather to his darling Mabel, he felt a fearful void in his existence, and he was wont to become absent, 110 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. and to think of little else but her pretty looks and gentle ways, instead of, as had hitherto been his practice, giving his thoughts steadily to his professional cares. Madly in love as he was, he was still sane enough to perceive that this manner of proceeding was exceedingly disadvantageous to him in every way. The only remedy suggested was the obtaining the pretty little soft hand of Mabel, and settling down as a married man. Peter seemed only to remember that he had loved Mabel so long, he quite forgot that she had not known him ever since he first saw her, on the memorable day of the dropt book, but merely during a comparatively short space of time ; he resolved, however, on speaking and pleading his own cause with her. He smiled at the idea of what he termed " a staunch little methodist," being his wife ; but he found so much to admire in the mild, sober cheerfulness of old Mr. Silverton and herself, that it did away with any prejudice he might have felt in allying himself to one of that THE .RIVAL DOCTORS. Ill persuasion and quite overpowered even the recollection of the elder female's sour gravity. His heart and mind thus occupied, he came to the determination of making liis passion and his hopes forthwith known to Mabeh Accordingly, having bestowed as much pains as Gil Bias once did when expecting a decla- ration which he did not get, after adorning his person in the most elaborate and careful manner he sallied forth, and mounting his handsomest horse departed on his errand one beautiful day towards the end of September. There was a fine autumnal freshness in the air, and the sun shone with a peculiar richness on the red, yellow, and brown tints of the trees, among which the numerous feathered songsters sent forth their varied notes both shrill and loud. The stubble fields glittered under the sun's rays, and the gurgling streams sparkled and leapt in his beams. In fact, there was a pleasing appearance in ever^^thing, for all seemed to enjoy the brief interval that was to elapse before the cold, uncongenial 112 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. frosts and snow of winter came to mar the present. Peter Jenkins' heart seemed in perfect harmony with external nature — it was light, bright, hopeful, and consequently gay ; whilst he drew additional pleasure from the autumnal sensations, sounds and sights that surrounded him on all sides as contrasted with the merry joy of his own soul. On he rode in all the pride of manhood, and the wind played on his face and hair ; he patted his horse's neck, and there was an exulting look of extreme happiness over his whole countenance. From a rise in the ground he caught sight of Silverton's house, standing somewhat lonely in the midst of the yellow and brown leaves of the trees. He pulled up his horse, and sat gazing for some minutes abstractedly ; and then again gave the horse its liberty and the spur and rode along the somewhat narrow lanes, by which the approach was made to the house. On either side of these lanes numerous gates and stiles led to the THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 113 \ arious fields and meadows, and were flanked by thick and tall hedges, on which hips and haws and blackberries grew in great profusion, affording an agreeable repast to hungry- children and epicure birds. It so happened that on one of these stiles sat ]\Iabel, resting herself for a time after rather a long walk throuorh the meadows and fields. She was playing \n.th a spaniel, which was barking sharply and shewing its white teeth attempting to clutch a pocket handkerchief she ever and anon withdrew from his clamorous advances. On hearing the sound of Peter's horse's hoofs, she looked up ; and directly the horseman drew up his steed, she sprang from her seat, whilst Peter dismounted and paid his respects in the most courteous manner. They Avalked on together towards the house, Peter leading his horse by the bridle, and after the customary remarks about the fineness of the day and other trifles his companion asked : '' I hope you were going to call on Mr. 114 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Silverton, Doctor Jenkins? he will be delighted to see you." " To tell the truth, I was not, my visit and my business was to another person to-day.'' "But surely, Dr. Jenkins, you will not pass his house without seeing him, if it be only for a few minutes — I am sure he would be exceedingly sorry to hear that you had been so near and not given him the pleasure of a few minutes' chat; it always affords him so much happiness to see you." " I will finish the affair which brought me into this neighbourhood first ; after that is accomplished, I shall have great pleasure in paying my respects to Mr. Silverton." *' That's right, Doctor Jenkins ; I hope you have not far to ride." " No, I am at my journey's end. In order that I may speedily and prosperously obtain the end I have in view, I must beg you to help me, — I hope you will not say nay." " You may depend upon my doing all you wish, if I can in any way serve you." l:TaE RIVAL DOCTORS, 115 Peter's voice faltered, when he began his story, but he soon recovered his firmness, and his tone became stronor \onor ere he came to o o the end of his request. " I thank you with my whole heart, for your kind promise, and I will at once tell you what I need. You must first understand that, weak man that I am, I have suiFered myself to fall desperately in love — yes in love beyond all cure or redemption. It is a weakness, however, that may well be excused, considering how much gentleness, goodness and exquisite beauty it is caused by. I feel I shall be miserable tor the remainder of my life, should she whom I love above all earthly things and with such love as no other woman could inspire — I shall be unutterably wretched should she not accept my love and devotion, unworthy as I know and feel I am of such an angel — I loved her long and secretly before I had the happiness of being kno^vn to her, and then, believe me, when I tell you, that all her feminine graces and virtues only added 116 THE EIVAL DOCTORS. fuel to the flame which was devouring me. Will you help me ? you, and you alone can persuade her to give me the most valued gift this earth contains — to give me her precious self — Will you help me — will you do it ? — If you mil not my earthly happiness is wrecked for ever ! " For a moment the fair young creature scarcely knew what to say — what to think — what to do. She first smiled at his extraor- dinary vehemence ; and then she became serious, almost fancying that his mind was momentarily affected. She had not been looking at him, but now, on gazing up into his face, ere making a reply, she saw that his usually placid countenance, and his sparkling eyes were turned upon her with an intense, fervent look. " I promise you, Doctor Jenkins, that I will do everything in my power to help and promote your wishes," she said " but you have forgotten to tell me who this lady is, and .where I am to address her." THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 117 " She is the most perfect — the most beautiful lady in the world " said Peter, looking devotedly into his companion's face " and you can easily address yourself to her, seeing that she always resides with you and in your own abode. Tell her I love her as no man ever loved woman before ; that unless she returns my love, and my devotion, I shall be the most miserable man on hearth.'' Mabel seemed bewildered — she could not comprehend what Peter was saying. " Can he mean Barbara ? " and there was a pause for a short time, whilst she continued to think over the past few months. She remembered Peter s frequent rides past their town house, and his staring at every window as he rode by. Still she could not believe that he was serious; '' perhaps he has heard she has money,'' she thought, ''men are so sordid." Peter was silently awaiting his companion's answer, but as she gave no reply, he said : " You have guessed who it is that I mean ; I hope I may now count upon your aid.'' 118 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. " Indeed, Doctor Jenkins, I can scarcely credit what you say, I suppose you mean Barbara ; if so, your powers of persuasion would have much greater weight with her than anything I could urge in your behalf. Nevertheless, as I have promised, I will speak to her for you." " What ! " cried Peter, " do you imagine for a moment that I could love such a vinegar looking, such an ugly — but you are joking — whilst I am serious — most serious.'' He paused and gently taking Mabel's hand, he continued : " It is you, and you only that I love ! Will you leave Mr. Silverton and all who love you so much^ and give yourself to me, my darling Mabel — I will do all in my power to make your life one of peace and pleasantness. I will love you as devotedly and fondly as it is possi- ble for one human being to love another. We will be one in heart and in feeling. You shall have no wish ungratified that it will be in my power to grant ; I will give you a whole life's THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 119 devotion. Tell me, oh tell me, you ^vill be mine — I shall die if you refuse me ! " The crimson blood rushed like a torrent to the face and neck of his companion, her nostrils dilated and her eyes shone and sparkled with an unusual brilliancy as she cried — " You base and dastardly man, what have you ever witnessed in my conduct or my looks to induce you to oiFend my ears ^vith such abominable wickedness ? — Leave mv home — leave my husband to follow you.'' " Your husband ! '" exclaimed Peter, and then sank into silence, but still keeping his place by her side although she hurried forward till she became almost breathless. At length she stopped and said, turning towards him, '' Doctor Jenkins, after the gross insult that you have offered me, and the wrong that you have done my husband, Mr. Silverton, T beg you will instantly leave me.'' "My kind friend Mr. Silverton your husband! I pray you pardon and listen to me for a mAnute" he returned. "I would sooner die 120 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. than offend you — It is error alone that has led me to speak as I have done — Upon my sacred honour, I always thought Barbara was Mr. Silverton's wdfe and that you w-ere his daughter ! " Jenkins said this so respectfully, so seriously and so emphatically, that Mabel could not for a moment doubt either his words or his truthfulness. " It was by no means an unnatural or improbable mistake " she replied in her usual gentle, kind and affable manner " Barbara is my husband's daughter, and I need not tell you, Doctor Jenkins, that I am his second wife — I can sincerely assure you how grieved I am, that the difference in our ages should have led you into such an error." " A most fatal error for me,'' said Peter in a sorrowful tone, " Farew^ell, Mrs. Silverton I know you will not betray me. After what has passed, I give you my sacred promise that I will never again voluntarily come into your THE RIVAL DOCTORS. l21 presence, but ere I leave you, let me hear from your lips that I am pardoned." '' You have both my pardon and my deepest sympathy." " Farewell then," and Peter jumped on to his horse and putting spurs to its sides, the spirited animal gallopped furiously over the uneven road along the lanes, and ere many minutes had elapsed both horse and rider were out of Mabel's sight, who, after giving a sigh of pity to her handsome admirer, continued her walk homeward. She could not be otherwise than pleased at the conduct and manly bearing of Jenkins after he discovered his mistake, and wished with all her heart that he might not be long ere he found som^i other lady whose love would obliterate the memories of the last few months and make him, as she really thought he deserved to be, a happy man. Peter gallopped away at so furious a pace that he heard not the chirping birds as he retraced his road. All nature seemed changed. Vol. L g* 122 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. every thing that an hour or two before had looked so bright and cheerful now appeared to him both melancholy and dismal. It is true he rode as erect as before, and his chest was as expanded as ever, but his eyes were sad, his eyebrows were knit, and his lips were compressed. All his fondest hopes had been overthrown — still, yes, in spite of all, his love remained. He knew not where to turn for sympathy or consolation ; in his present state, there appeared neither for him. " Time the healer of all wounds must do it "' he muttered, at the same time giving his horse a smart lash; the animal bounded on and Peter sighed. "Time must do it, and some other — psha ! I never can love another woman as I love Mabel. Time may wither my flesh, it may turn me into a grey-headed old man, but it never can quench my ardent, faithful love ! " and he heaved a deep sigh. " I have now nothinf]^ to live for — nothino: to hope — I must become still more wedded to my profes- ^on and busy myself body and mind and try to THE RIVAL DOCTORS. iZO lorget my present uiiliappiness. Life never seemed weary to me before.'' Again the poor horse felt the whip and the spnr, and dashed along at a furious paee. Peter pulled his hat over his forehead till the i)rim eompletely shaded his eyes, and in an incredible short time he reached his home in jiiournful spirits. CHAPTER X. It is always a very painful awakening on the morning succeeding a day of misfortune or annoyance ; especially if the sleeper, as is not an unusual occurrence, has had a dream- of exceeding happiness. It was so with Jenkins, when he awoke, a very painful feeling was at his heart ; the yellow autumn sun was shining in at his window, and he turned round in his bed half asleep, yet sufficiently conscious to bring back the fatal event of the previous day, and his heart sickened as he roused him- self and thought that the woman he had loved so well was the wife of old Silverton— and THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 125 consequently that there remained not the slightest hope that she whom he had selected to be his wife, could ever be so. Peter grew exceedingly restless, turning from side to side in the bed and at length settling himself on his back and putting his hands be- hind his head, fixed his eyes upon the ceiling or rather upon space, for he saw nothing, he cogitated in a most unhappy mood. The sub- ject his mind dwelt upon was not very exhila- rating, and Peter had not felt the slightest inclination to get up ; on the other hand, he felt as if he would lie and ponder over his unhappy disappointment allday,andthe conse- <|uence was the more he pondered the worse he grew, the less he became inclined to move. Jenkins, however, was not a man to either sink or die under a misfortune ; or even to give wa}' to the undue indulgence of a fruitless sorrow, and therefore, after having allowed his feelings to be excited for an hour or two, it struck him, that his present inaction was neither the right way to pursue, nor the most 126 THE EIVAL DOCTORS. manly way to meet troubles, nor indeed the best method of dispersing the lonely wretched- ness he felt. So making a desperate resolution he jumped from his bed determined to enter into all the busiest scenes of life, to fill up the day with the most active exertions in his profession, and not to allow himself a single moment of solitude. As he opened his casement, the fresh air blew pleasantly upon his face, (even in close London,) and as he proceeded with his toilette, the thought came across his mind — as thoughts will do whether welcome or not — that his friend Silverton, for he regarded him sincerely, was an old man, and that if he would only have a little patience, he might still call Mabel his wife ; for in all human probability, it would not be many years, even, perhaps, not many months ere the death of her husband would set her free, *' and once free," he muttered, " I will win her love.'' The idea considerably soothed his irritated feelings, and he sallied forth to his professional duties, and THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 127 to enter into such pleasures as presented them- selves of sufficient interest to prevent his thoughts and feelings being too much occupied by Mabel. Jenkins continued to lead this sort of life day by day and week by week, taking amuse- ments as it were medicinally, and to banish past sad recollections ; but still, when the Christmas log blazed on the hearth, he found no diminution of his affection for the lovely Mabel. He had, however so schooled his passion that he never allowed it to interfere in the slightest degree, either with his professional duties, or any other of the duties he owed to society. CHAPTER XL We have told, in the previous chapter, how Doctor Jenkins behaved under his disappoint- ment ; how resolutely he determined to crush a passion no longer innocent. He felt that he could never cease to love Mabel, but he would never see her again, unless, indeed, she became free. She should be to him a treasured memory ; but there should be no guilt in his affection. He knew he had spoken words which were insulting to her purity to have heard, and this grieved him. He could never again feel the light-hearted man of past days^ THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 129 but he would never covet another man's wife to stain the purity of his love. Mabel, how did she witness the first ripple on the hitherto unruffled surface of her existence ? How did she meet her first womanly experience ? When Doctor Jenkins rode ofi", she hastend on as if she were not safe till she was under the shelter of her home. Frightened and breathless, she reached the entrance to the grounds, when the idea suddenly flashed across her mind, that she must not meet her husband whilst so agitated, and avoiding the house she passed into a shrubbery, sought a summer house, where she threw herself on to a seat to recover her breath and gain composure. We cannot place before our readers Mabel's reflections, we can only say that when her indignation had subsided, her woman's heart pleaded for and pardoned the oftender, wlio had solemnly promised not to seek her again, and she had so high an opinion of Dr. Jenkins' hoDor that she felt perfectly safe. That she 130 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. thought of her husband, might be known by an exclamation, as she arose from the seat. " I must be calm; he must not know what has occurred — and yet — " Again Mabel seated herself and again resumed her train of thought. A painful struggle took place, causing the colour to rush into her cheeks, only to leave them paler than before. Then her eyes became suffused with tears to be followed by smiles. At length, her whole countenance changed and a look of determination came to her features. She ao-ain arose, and this time walked with a firm step from the shrubbery to the house. She enquired for her husband and being told that he was in his library, she gently knocked at the door and entered. Mr. Silverton looked up and smiled as his wife approached the table, upon which she threw her bonnet, exclaiming as she seated hei'self, " I am so tired." " You look tired, my love " observed her Imsband "you have extended your walk THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 131 further than was prudent. Where have you l)een ? ' ' '' Into the villa o-e. As I mounted the stile to get into the lane I met Doctor Jenkins." " Doctor Jenkins " repeated Mr. Silverton, " I am very glad ; tell him to come into the library." " He is not here," replied Mabel with a deep flush, "he left me again almost immediately." *' That was unkind, knowing as he does, how much pleasure I always derive from his visits. What broufrht him into our neiprhbour- hood?" Mabel looked up for a moment, and then in a confused, hurried manner said : '' I have something to tell you, something to explain ; but you must promise not to be angry, not to blame me, nor Doctor Jenkins." " Blame you, my love " said Silverton looking anxiously into his wife's face. "No, nor Doctor Jenkins. He did not mean — '' "Mean what?" interrupted the old 132 THE EIVAL DOCTORS. gentleman. " Surely, my love, Doctor Jenkins has not insulted you. He is gay and lives in gay company, but I liked him and did not think him capable of — '' '^Listen," said Mabel placing her hand upon her husband's shoulder. '' I have never withheld from you any incident of my life and now I want to say much to you, but you must not look cross or I cannot speak as freely as I wish." ^^ Mabel you are good, but you are young and inexperienced in the ways of the world — I am old and dread lest — '' "You are my kind good husband. You will call me a simpleton, but I made such a silly blunder. As I told you I met Doctor Jenkins in the green lane, who dismounted and walked mth me. I told him you would be glad to see him, and then he said it was me he had come to see ; he wished my assistance to plead his cause with a lady whom he dearly loved. I told him I w^ould do my best for lilm. I asked the name of the lady and he THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 133 told me she lived under this roof. I thouo-ht o he meant Barbara, and promised to use all my influence with her. He then declared it was not Barbara, but that it was me whom he loved and wished to make his wife. Oh, I was so angry and called him vile, and asked him what he had ever seen in my conduct to induce him to insult both me and my husband." Mabel paused, and took the old man's hand caressingly, and held it firmly as if it would give her support to continue her narrative, whilst Silverton, agitated and flushed, could only utter : *' Go on Mabel, do not keep me in suspense, pray go on." " Doctor Jenkins," continued Mabel, " became very much agitated and said all he could to assure me he intended no insult to me, or wrong to you whom he so much and sincerely respected, but that he had for months loved me, believing Barbara to be your wife, and that I was your daughter. He asked my 134 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. forgiveness for the unintentional pain he had caused me and promised, on his honor, never voluntarily to see me again. I scarcely knew what I answered, I was so anxious that he should leave me. He again asked my pardon and instantly rode off. I hurried home and when I reached the shrubbery I was so breathless and hot that I went into the summer-house to rest and think over all I had gone through. " T\Tien I became calm I freelv foro^ave Doctor Jenkins, feeling perfect confidence in his promise, so solemnly and so respectfulh* made, not to come again, and I resolved not to tell you what had occurred ; but upon reflec- tion I altered my resolve feeling that you would wonder why your new friend did not come to visit you as usual, and whenever you expressed your surprise I should feel like a guilty thing, though I had only acted from a wish to save you vexation. But better, far better that you should suffer present vexation than live to find your wife had not been candid, had kept a secret from you who had so often taught her, that perfect confidence THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 135 casteth aside fear and suspicion." I have given you that confidence and I know, dear husband, you will neither fear my fidelity or suspect me of having encouraged hopes I never could realise. Tell me you are satisfied with me and that you forgive Doctor Jenkins." As Mabel ceased speaking her husband drew her to him and fondly kissed her forehead saying : " My treasure, I could never have doubted your purity, even your impulses are pure ; but I cannot so easily forgive Jenkins. I can scarcely believe in his ignorance of your being my wife. What did he mean when he said he had loved you for months. It Avas onlv the other day he first saw you." "Not so,'* replied Mabel. ''Do you remember my dropping my hymn-book one Sunday as we left the chapel and a gentleman picking it up. I think you must, because Barbara was so cross about it. That gentleman was Doctor Jenkins. I saw him often after- 136 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. wards at chapel, and once I saw him ridin^^ with Dr. Brewster. They both stopped at our door in Lime Street ; but I never spoke to him till the day of the accident in the hayfield." For some minutes, Mr, Silverton did not speak, and Mabel became extremely uneasy. At length he said : "I see it all now, my love. I will forgive Dr. Jenkins, but he must never again come into my house or presence. I am an old man ; he is young and fascinating. If he were really under a delusion — " " Oh, my dear husband, do not for a single instant doubt that he was. If you could have seen his dismay and witnessed the respectful manner he assumed, and the kind words he uttered — '' ''Well well, Mabel,'' interrupted Silverton, " I will not doubt, and under the circumstances I cannot be surprised at his falling in love with the best child in the world ; but since that treasure is mine, I must guard it carefully and not open my door for a thief to Avalk in THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 137 and steal. Now leave me till luncheon, and do not look so pleadingly into my face ; my confidence in you is greater than ever, but I wish to think awhile.'' With a fervent pressure of the hand and a kiss on her husband's forehead, Mabel left the room. Mr. Silverton was a truly pious, good man, whose mind was well regulated and who had lived past the age for impulse. He was vexed at the recital he had just heard, and though he was somewhat doubtful as to the mistake, he could not help admitting that it was a very natural one; whilsthis inherentgoodnessandhis great liking for the young man made him wish to believe him innocent of intentional insult. Before his marriage Silverton had experi- enced many doubts as to the rectitude of making Mabel his wife. It is true he loved her dearly and would do everything in his power to make her happy. But was not the affection she gave him that of a devoted daughter rather than a wife's love. Could a girl of eighteen really love a man of sixty and upwards. 138 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Ought he not rather to treasure her as a child who knew nothing of the world beyond her school and his house. Was it not selfish to take advantage of h^r girlish innocence of woman's feelings to bind her to himself. These thoughts pressed heavily upon his mind at the time, and what sophistry Avas called into action to silence his just promptings we know not. The younggirl became his wife and was happy, and Silverton forgot his doubts till they were all brought with redoubled force thus suddenly before his mind's eye. He now saw, as he sat alone pondering over the past, how greatly he had injured the being he loved best in the world, and he bitterly repented what he called his selfishness, and reproached himself for having cut her off from the pleasures of her age, nay, from the warmest feelings of her sex. He had polished the jewel, but he allowed its lustre to shine only for himself. Accident had proved Mabel to be attractive to others ; that however he might screen her from view, her beauty would shine forth. Now arose the THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 139 question in his mind — would she never give a sigh of regi^et for the sweets of life beyond the indulgence of her aged husband. She was purity itself and mere flattery would fall at her feet unheeded ; but the devotion of Jenkins might be thought of in the future, and then would no softer feeling arise than that of mere pardon for his having spoken of his love and how earn- estly he had sought her for months. Mabel was not yet aware of the injur}- done her, and he fervently prayed she might never awake to the consciousness. To prevent such a catastrophe must and should be his loving duty, and that his beloved Mabel might feel, in after years, he wished to atone for his selfish error, he took a pen and wrote a long letter in which the foreoroino^ reflections were simply and plainly stated — which letter, after folding and sealing, was deposited in his pocket-book; and then with a cheerful face and lightened heart, he sought his wife, who welcomed his coming with one of her brightest smiles. 140 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. From this day there was an almost imper- ceptible change in Mr. Silverton's manner to his wife, a sort of reverence infused into his loving indulgence, which Mabel quickly felt and understood, and which pleased her greatly. She had hitherto been petted and smiled upon as a favorite child, now her opinions were asked, her confidence reposed in, her decisions, acted upon. This change did her good, it called her energy into play, taught her, that she was not only the principal ornament in her house, but that she had power there, a power to be exercised for the happiness of all in and around that home. She knew she bestowed happiness on others and was consequently always happy. It is true Barbara did not altogether approve this new phase and thought her step-mother assumed a great deal too mucli consequence, but as her own wishes were not interfered with, she said noting, though she sneered at the " child's airs." CHAPTER XII. Doctor Jenkins was not the only one who had been smitten by the charms of the loveh- and gentle Mabel. There was one other man whose heart did her homage, but he was n-. although he made the attempt, and after making a wry face, he .sent Brewster's servant to Li'at some ale at a public house not far distant, ''just," as he told his host, "to try the difference in the brewery," to which proposition Brewster assented, and when the foaming ale was poured out. his shrivelled face became animated by the lengthened draught, and his cold nose grew red and his eyes twinkled. 162 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Peter also took a " long pull '' at the ale ; and when he put down the glass, asked carelessly : " How is Mr. Silverton going on? " Brewster perceiving that the tankard was not empty, did not immediately reply ; taking it up he drained it thoroughly. Jenkins repeated his question. " Dead ! '' replied Brewster putting doAvn the tankard, and feeling that the eyes of Peter were upon him, he turned suddenly round to stir the miserably black looking scanty fire. What a host of feelings and sensations the one short word " dead '' created in the breast of Jenkins. He was aware of poor old Silverton's illness but he had not the most remote idea of his being in danger ; nor was there the slightest reason why the invalid should have died, had his death not been accelerated by Brewster's expert assistance. Surprise, love, joy and hope rushed into Jenkins' breast, and to an acute observer his face would have betrayed the secret. Brewster, however, at THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 1G3 that moment was too busy with his own feelings, and apparently too attentive to his consumptive fire to attend to anything else, and consequently did not heed his visiter or wished to talk upon the subject, the more especially with Jenkins ; and Peter, too full of his own varied emotions, was equally averse to converse. After a few minutes Brewster put down the bent rusty poker, and said : " Have you finished breakfast, if so, we had better be off to see this patient of yours." " How did he die ? " asked Peter in a dreamy state. " How did he die ? '' repeated Brewster quickly. "Who?" " Why poor old Silverton to be sure, who else should I mean." *' Thomas ! Thomas ! " shouted Brewster, but Thomas did not put in an appearance, so Brewster arose and went to the door and shouted a!]fain. "Yes, master," replied a somewhat hoarse voice from some distant part of the premises. 164 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. " Bring my cloak and hat as quickly as possible ; and without turning to look at Jenkins, he went to a bureau, an old worm- eaten piece of furniture, and opening it took out a number of papers, which to all appear- ance he examined with great care and a stern look. " When did he die ? " perseveringly enquired Jenkins. " Last night," was the laconic reply. " Did you expect that he would die ? " said Jenkins. To Brewster's relief Thomas entered the room, bringing with him his master's rusty hat and threadbare coat, which latter he assisted Brewster to put on, who almost snatching the hat from his servant's hand placed it on his head, and having locked the bureau, stalked out of the room followed by Jenkins. They were no sooner in the street than Peter, coming close to Brewster's side asked : THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 165 ^* How does poor Mrs. Silvcrton bear her sad loss? '' '' Poor Mabel ! '' said Brewster shaking his head, "I question if she ever gets over it. She loved her husband tenderly. She is a widow in heart as well as in reality. I fear she will never see joyous daj's again." Peter turned suddenly round and looked sharply into his companion's stolid face. "Time will alleviate her distress, Dr. Brewster," said Peter. "Give her time — poor young creature ! '' and he heaved an audible sigh, causing his brother doctor to take a scrutinizing look in his turn. " We shall see what time may effect, but I have my doubts." They kept silence for some minutes. There were strange feelings tugging at the hearts of both — sensations, which neither could well define, and which neither could act upon, and yet the sensations were of a nature to cause them great uneasiness, and to Brewster consi- derable reserve, as well as much caution. 1C6 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. He could not shut from his eyes that Peter was extremely animated and looked remarkably handsome as well as immensely interested whenever the newly made widow became the subject of conversation. Jenkins too felt very nervous and restless, for there was something about Brewsters conduct that puzzled him, when speaking of Mabel. There was no particular word ; no particular look ; no par- ticular deed that he could fasten upon ; but it constantly flashed across his mind that his rival had free access to her presence and of being with her tete-a-tete. Again the thought struck him that ungainly and shrivelled as was Brewster's appearance, he might still possess winning ways, and that it was no un- common thing for the most beautiful and fascinating women to link their destinies with men quite as miserable and sinister looking as Brewster. By the time these thoughts had passed through the minds of the rivals, they had reached the yhouse of Jenkins' aristocratic THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 167 patient, and Peter having knocked at the door both doctors were admitted. The remainder of the day was spent b\' Jenkins in alternate joy and fear, doubt, anxiety, fidget and irresolution. In joy, that no longer any barrier existed between ]\Iabel and himself; fear and doubt lest Brewster might supplant him ; anxiety about his rivals intimacy with the lovely widow; and irreso- lution as to what steps he should take in his future mode of action towards her. At one moment he determined to rush to the house of sorrow and again declare his unaltered passion for her; but this notion was no sooner formed than abandoned, his better feelings out- weighing his blinded passion. Then again came the thought that his rival would hav<' constant admittance to her presence durin*^'; the months of mourning and seclusion sh^- would have to undergo; and thus being able to play the amiable, and day by day make advances under the convenient cover of a friendly and s}Tnpathizing medical friend, step 168 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. by step worming himself into her good graces in the moments of sorrow, and eventually carrying off the prize. Had Jenkins made Brewster his confidant and told him all his hopes and fears, the plan of action he had settled in his own mind could not have been more clearly traced out. These reflections of Jenkins were carried on whilst he was undressing, but at length, he put out the light and jumped into be-d. He could not however go to sleep : his mind would be busy in spite of all his efforts — "It is all foolish- ness " he soliloquised " that ugly cur may try, but Mabel will never seriously listen to such an animal. Pshaw ! what's the use of w^orrying oneself; have I not been sought by women of high position ? and in vain : Take courage, Peter, the lovely, amiable and perfect being whom you seek shall be yours — yes, 3^ours in spite of all the wiles and plans of that shrivelled piece of parchment, Brewster.'' Thus Jenkins went on arguing with himself, and planning, till he got into a lover-like fit of THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 169 despair, and had in truth, hit on the precise line of conduct his rival intended to pursue. At length he fell into a restless sleep. Vol. I. . I. CHAPTER XIV. After days of violent sorrow and deep grief when Mabel could think, her desolate con- dition forced itself upon her mth a chilling sensation. She was an orphan, and had neither friend nor relative to whom she could pour out her heart's grief, or apply to for advice in this her hour of trouble and anxiety. Her daughter-in-law was little less than an iceberg, and too much taken up with her own sel- fishness ; Mabel's gentle and affectionate nature was nothing to her ; the widow felt her only prop was gone ; and her heart was full of love for him as she recalled his great THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 171 goodness and kindness to her throughout her infancy, youth and woman-hood. It was at tliis period that Brewster made his first advance. The Doctor's presence was a consolation to the afflicted widow ; she connected him in idea with her departed husband, and to see him was a relief to her. He talked upon the only subject she could bear to listen to ; soothed her feelings, sat patiently by her side, devoted himself for hours to cheer her, smoothed his natural harshness, treated her so affectionately, and at the same time so respectfully, interested himself so tenderly about her, making great display of compassionate friendship ; and so well did he all this time keep his love under controul, that Mabel began to feel she had a friend, and by degrees to deem herself less desolate when the wily doctor was by to calm and soothe her grief, and to give comfort to her young heart by his assiduous atten- tions. I. 3. 172 THE lUVAL DOCTORS. The melanclioly day arrived when the body of poor Mr. Silverton was to be deposited in the grave. Brewster had undertaken the entire management of the funeral and his grim visage, w^as little less death-like than the corpse he had engaged to follow to the last resting place. Mabel had given the farewell Idss to the cold inanimate clay the heavy coffin- lid had excluded for ever from the light of day. She had wept unceasingly through the dark silent hours of night, and arose in the morning with a most sorrowful heart to put on her widow's garments. Soon after daylight had dawned on the house of mourning Brewster made his appearance, and took his place silently by the widow's side. They had not sat long, ere a w^hispering and shuffling of feet broke the silence — Presently the sound as of several heavy blows against the wide oak balustrade of the stair- case caused Mabel to start, and she involun- tarily seized Brewster's arm with one hand, covering her face with the other; hysteri- THE mVAIj DOCTOES. 173 cal sobs and fast falling tears betrayed all she felt, as her dead husband's body was carried to one of the rooms on the ground floor of the house it was soon to leave for ever. Brewster smiled as he looked on the delicate little trembling hand that clasped his bony arm, and taking it in one of his own whispered in most compassionate tones : " My heart bleeds for you ; but if you have lost one earthly friend you have gained ano- ther. I will never forsake you, or ever forget you I'' The disconsolate Mabel's tears flowed faster and faster, she could not utter a word, and could only thank him by a tighter pressure of his arm, and then hiding her face in both her hands, she wept without restraint. Brewster crossed one leg over the other, and with his arms upon his narrow chest, and his chin sunk on his breast, sat without speaking a word for full half an hour, watching the object of his idolatry from beneath his scowling 174 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. brows, whilst a smile of satisfaction played upon his lips. Mabel, completely absorbed by her deep and heart-felt sorrows, little dreamed how much love, or rather passion, she was exciting. — Her heart was cold with grief, his burning : hers w^as loudly beating with agony as sob after sob burst from it, his with passion as he drew one lono^ sio^h and looked on her agitation. A loud knock at the door, aroused Brewster from his reverie. He arose from his seat and went out of the room to hold a short con- ference mth the person who had knocked. After a few minutes he returned, and went close to Mabel. "Mrs. Silverton," he said, with his voice modulated to the tone of the softest pity, " I must leave you for awhile, my presence is required, to attend the body of your poor husband to its last resting place." These w^ords sounded in the poor widow's ears as if she had received sentence of death — she rose to detain him : she tried to speak, but THE KIVAL DOCTORS. 175 she could not utter a syllable ; her brain whirled ; her senses fortook her ; she fainted, the doctor caught her in his arms. Brewster called for assistance, and after giving the requisite directions to the women who came at his summons, he joined the other mourners, mounted his lean horse and the procession moved on towards the damp little church, close to the country house, where Mr. Silverton and his young wife had passed so many happy hours together. The procession moved slowly through the streets of London, but as soon as it arrived in the open country and entered on the narrow country roads, the pace was accelerated. The morning was bitterly cold, the sky covered by a smooth grey mass of low hanging clouds, from which the snow was falling in large feathery flakes slowly, lightly, and silent- ly upon the cold earth. The stillness of the country was only broken now and then by the (•awinc^ of a crow, navio:atino; its way throufrh the soft snow, the mournful tinkle of a sheep 176 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. bell, the bleating of a hurdled flock, the shrill whistle of a clod hopper, or the barking of a distant dog. The funeral procession travelled but slowly through the heavy and obstructed roads. The hearse with its sable plumes became whitened with snow, and the half fi'ozen followers shook the flakes from their hats and cloaks, only to have them covered ao^ain in the course of a few minutes, whilst their blue cheeks, and red noses, bore ample testimony to the piercing cold of the atmos- phere and the chill state of their bodies. Not a word was spoken by either of the mourners — Brewster's thoughts were more with the living than the dead. He thought of the widow whom he had left so sorro^\^ul and so utterly prostrated : but his musings were not altogether so pleasant as he could have desired : for his cogitations were every now and then interrupted by the clapping of frozen hands ; and in spite of himself, the fact came to his mind that he had opened the road to Mabel's hand in a way that was quite TIIK RIVAL DOCTORS. 177 unjustifiable. He became uneasy ; his brow darkened and his hand became unsteady. In the midst of his reflection, he was startled by the rider at his side, a little fat, chubby man, thrusting out fi'om beneath his cloak, a blue hand ! grasping as firmly as the cold would permit, a leather flask which, without a word, he put into the hand of Brewster, who, after acknowledging his companion's amiable polite- ness by a stifi'bow, took a good draught of what turned out to be a mixture of rum and milk ; returning the flask to its owner the Doctor felt fortified against the snow and the cold ; ])at it did not prevent his thoughts recurring to the lifeless body of poor Silverton, and the foul part he had played. On and on wended the procession, and on went the day, the snow falling faster and thicker as the hearse and its followers surmounted the difficulties of bad roads. At length they reached the lane, Avhere Jenkins had poured into the ear of Mabel his love for her, and where he first learnt that she was the wife of the man I. 5. 178 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. who was now being carried lifeless through it. The brambles and branches, then ruddy with autumnal leaves and all nature rejoicing in the fresh and healthful autumn breeze, were now motionless beneath their gradually accumulating w^eight of snow^, w^hich flake by flake had covered them as w^ell as the wide meadow^s that lay so green and soft be- neath the sun-beams, when Jenkins had ridden so gaily and so hopefully forward to meet a bitter disappointment ! a disapjDointment w^hich he had met so honorably and in so manly a manner. In the distance stood the once pleasant house, its chimneys plainly seen among the leafless trees, now^ looking desolate, but no smoke was curling upw^ards, inspiring thoughts of warmth and hospitality ! the snow^ was lying deep, and untrodden up to the very doors. The leaden sky stretched glooml}- iibove it, all nature seemed in accordance with the mournud procession; — earth and sky look their part, and all things were still and THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 170 sorrowful — as though to honour the funci-al of a good man. The church bell sounded from the village steej^le, with a thin and feeble sound as the procession drew near. It Avent down the village street, passed the low thatched cottages — at the doors of which the villagers stood still and stared, with their heads uncovered, the women dropping their simple curtsies as their kind old benefactor's corpse was borne past them. Shivering children impelled b}' curiosity flocked after the procession, followed silently and sorrowfully by their seniors. The funeral train reached the church}'ard gates, on either side of which stood thick and tufted yew trees, the horsemen dismounted, the coffin was taken from the hearse and covered with a velvet pall, on Avhich the snow flakes fell like stars, and was carried up the steep and narrow path to the church, followed ])y the mourners, whose stiff and benumbed feet Avere nearly as cold as those of the dead. At the porch the clergyman met them, and turning preceeded them to the cold damp 180 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. church. The coffin was placed on tressels in the middle aisle, the snow melted and stood like tear-drops on the pall — the villagers flocked aroundj the burial service was read and the body was borne to the mouth of the dark and open vault. Brewster looked on like his associates, but mourned not as they did ; when the coffin was lowered and disap- peared — the ropes drawn back and thrown upon the moist green pavement, he experi- enced a sensation of joy, that his victim was no longer on earth, and he covered his face vfith his cloak to hide the growing smile of triumph Vv^hich he could not check, that was stealing over his sinister countenance, and pretended to weep as he muttered : " Sleep on ! there will soon be a flag stone to hide from you the now sad widoAv's second merry wedding. A sharp lancet is a trusty friend — a vault is a capital prison — you can never again thwart my love or frustrate my schemes' I" CHAPTER XW There is an old Proverb wliieh says ' grief is dry,' and this proverb the funeral party hastened to prove true. Xo sooner had the eoffin containing the body of poor Silvei'ton been deposited in the dreary vault, tlian his mourners went to the little Inn, where having divested themselves of their cloaks and hats, they commenced comforting their sor- rowing souls with hot spiced wines and othei- soothing drinks, and wamiing their benumbed limbs at a rousing wood fire, which burned brightly in a large open chimney-place. There stood Dr. Brewster, with his back to the fire, 182 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. one hand stuck uikIit tlie tails of his coat, and the other holdino^ a tankard of foaminof ale, from which he took frequent and long- draughts ; but he was silent — and seemed in deep reverie. At length, he was startled b\' one of the mourners saying " Foul weather " as he looked through the small dusky panes of the lono^, low Avindow. " Foul enough in all conscience '' said another waving his hands before the blazing fire like a cat extending its claws. " Yes, and its getting dark," said a third, '^ I confess I prefer a tankard of ale or a spiced cup, before a rousing fire, to riding in the darkness, especially when that ride is through a snow storm, and a cutting east wind meets your face,'' and the speaker was on the point of accompanying these Avords with a laugh, Avhen the sable garments caught his eye, and he desisted, hiding his jolly round face in the tankard he held in his hand. Brewster gave the speaker a look as if horrified. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 183 " Upon my life,'' resumed the first speaker, " I think Ave have the worst trial yet to eome. I can't bear the idea of riding back to town through all the snow and cold." " Why do you then ?'' asked the third speaker withdrawing his head and mouth from the tankard. ''I'll just give you my view o^ the matter. Here we are, warm and comfor- table, and here I propose staying till the morning. Here we are well off and I think ir better to let well alone. If ever I saw a bitter night coming on, its now, and although there's a moon, how in the name of fortune can we expect her to shine through such snow clouds, the roads will be as black as ha ! ha! ha I'' " A capital plan " cried the whole party with the exception of Brewster, Avhilst two or three simultaneously shouted for the landlady, who instantly made her ajipearance. "Can you give us beds?" asked one. " Yes," replied the landlady curtseying. '^ And a good supper, and pipes, and a Ijowl of punch ?" continued her interrogater. 184 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. ''To be sure I can — there be two beds in the room over this, two more down the passage, two in the room where old mother died — that makes six ; there's one next the large room — that's seven, and I could make one gentleman a bed up in this room, that's eight and there's a truckle. — " " You need not prepare a bed for me'' in- terrupted Brewster, pulling out his large watch and surveying it, "I dare not delay my journey till the morning, as I have a very pressing case which must have my immediate attention; so bring out some supper for me, and tell the ostler to have my horse ready in half an hour." " Come, doctor," said the third speaker, ''you really must join us, — we can't spare you, and )'ou might as well give all your patients the same chance — let them live a little longer ! " The mourners, who seemed to have forgotten all about the solemn duty they had been en- gaged on, laughed heartily at this sally, whilst Brewster looked glum, but made no reply, — THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 185 and as his company was not very joyous he was not pressed to stay. His supper having been placed upon a table near the window he sat down and devoured it voraciously, whilst the rest of the party commenced smoking their pipes and talking over the occurrence of the day till the landlady should have prepared their repast. Brewster finished his meal, drank his quantum of strong ale,, paid his reckoning and left the room. At the door stood his wearied horse. The shivering ostler held the stirrup, and Brewster with some little difficulty got into the saddle, and rode out of the Inn yard. He soon began to feel the effects of the cold wind and the snow, and wrapped his cloak about him, turned up the coUlu" of his coat, and pulled the brim of his hat ahnost on to his nose. His horse was put into something like a trot which he executed with a coughing accompaniment, and reached th(i outskirts of the village just as twilight was giving way to the darkness of niirht. 186 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. We must however chronicle faithfully the fact that Dr. Brewster had taken so many long pulls at the ale tankard that his brain was in that state, which upon most men would have produced great exhilaration or amiability ; but the doctor never being either amiable or ex- hilarated, it produced no other effect than a positively savage irritability, which gave him the appearance of an equestrian Mephistopheles. He soon became exceedingly dizzy, and his vision none of the clearest, both which symp- toms were increased by the uncertain step of his scrao^gy steed on the frozen road. Had the horse been left to his own instinct he would have gone directly to his stable ; but on this occasion he was not allowed to have his way ; for on arriving at a spot where four roads met, his rider gave a violent tug at his bridle and the consequence was that both horse and rider were speedily on a route the very opposite to the one they should have taken. On and on they went, and the poor brute beo^an to feel the horrors of hunorer, for THE HIVAL DOCTOKS. 187 he had tasted neither hay nor corn since the morninor. Brewster rode with half closed eyes, and through his confused brain ran con- fused thoughts. ]\label occupied the greater share of his cogitations. Already he beheld that day approaching which was to make her his wife. On went the horse and on went the thoughts of its rider, the latter heeding not the flight of the hours, nor apparently affected in the slightest degree by the cold. A strong wind had sprung up and dispersed the clouds which a short time before had obscured the moon, but which was now^ shinino- bricrhtlv on the snow covered roads and fields, castinoj dark and dancino: shadows from the leafless storm-tossed trees — the ^nnd howling through their branches, and speedily ridding them of their snowy burdens, whilst in the open fields the snow flakes were blown hither and thither by the eddies. At length Brewster's meditations were interrupted by the hooting of a lonesome owl, which struck hoarsely on his ears. He 188 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. instantly pulled up his horse, listened, looked around and wondered. The stars were twinkling down upon him from the unmeasurable space above. No sounds could be heard but the panting and wheezing of his horse, the hooting owl and the driving wind. "Where am I?" at length he said. "I should be near London from the length of time I have been riding; and it's getting late." He took out his watch and to his amazement found that it was nearly midnight. His muddled brain began to clear, and again looking around him, he exclaimed mentally : " I fear I have missed my way — that con- founded ale — what a fool I was to drink so much of it. How cold, miserable and dreary everything looks." He shivered, for the first time realising the state of his body and looking over his shoulder he sent his spurs deep into the sides of his shivering weary horse which trotted off as fast THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 189 as it could till they came to a part of the road which lay between two plantations of fir trees through which the mnd rushed with prodigious force, blowing the rider's cloak about him in all directions, whilst in his haste to secure it round his body his hat was whisked off his head and carried far away. What between the flapping of his master's cloak and the boisterous character of the wdnd, the poor animal was positively getting restive, and commenced kicking, snorting, curvetting, backing and rearing in a w^ay most unusual to himself and exceedingly disagreeable to his rider. The tired brute executed all these escapades, it must be confessed, very ungrace- fully, and in a way most uncomfortable and dangerous to one who had been accustomed to nothing but meekness and docility. Brewster was in a miserable plight, he pulled first at his cloak, then at the bridle, plunging his spurs deep into the sides of the half maddened animal. He sw^ore fearful oaths dropt his whip and instantly became both 190 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. alarmed and desperate. There was a hard thumping at his heart and a choking sensation in his throat, confusing and completely over- powering him. He felt an undefinable dread creeping over him, but Avhat that dread was he could not exactly realise. The wind blew more violently every minute, the fir-trees on either side seemed to bow down towards him, as if mocking his irritated feelings, whilst his cloak blown completely over his head, shut out from his sight, the brightly shining moon and the saucy twinkling stars. The frightened horse kicked fearfully, stood almost upright on its hind legs and then with one des- perate plunge threw its master heavily to the ground, and no sooner felt itself released from the bridle than it dashed off at full speed by a sort of instinct up a hill which proved the nearest way to its home. For some considerable time the wretched Doctor lay in utter darkness and insensibility. The fall was so sudden that it was many minutes ere he could collect his scattered THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 191 senses, and when he succeeded in doing so, he felt such dread and apprehension, that he dared not uncover his head or move hand or foot. What caused all this dread and alarm he could not tell — all was vague, and the more distressing on that account. At length the remembrance flashed across his mind that poor old Silverton was cold and stiff in the vault into which that morning he had seen the coffin lowered, and the murderer's mouth grew dry. He heard the rushing wind and ima- gined that amid the firs he could distinguish moanings and lamentations. He pulled his cloak tighter over his face, listened and trem- bled, and in spite of the frost and snow, the perspiration started from every pore ; the wretched man gasped for breath, a suffocating feelinor came over him the throbbino^s in his neck and temples were fearful, he closed his eyes and dashing the cloak from his face, sat up on the ground. His head was giddy, and his back and shoulders ached from the 192 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. violence of his fall, and tlie wind whistled cold through his hair, blowing it hither and thither, whilst the l)right moon shone down upon his haggard features. Again he intently listened. He felt sure that some one was close by his side, and a cold shiver ran through his whole frame. With a desperate effort he extended one arm, attempted to clutch with his hand, and grasped — nothing but air. His bewildered and terrified fancy filled his ears with groans and voices as of dying, despairing men. He covered his ears with his shaking, shivering hands and sickened at the loud throbbing of his heart and pulses. He fancied that a face was close to his, that he could feel the breath and see the cold glaring eyes fixed staringly on him. It seemed to retreat and then advance ao^ain, and the belief caused large drops of perspiration to rise on his forehead and roll doAMi his cheeks. With suffocating rapidity the blood rushed through his veins, he trembled violently and THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 193 unable longer to bear his sensations he uttered a low, terrified exclamation, and jumping on his feet opened his eyes and gazed wildly about him. The fir-trees still waved and rustled and the moon shone with great brilliancy ; he was alone, the spectre whose horrible ghastly face he expected to behold was no where to be seen ; all around was solitude, cold and dreary. Re-assured by the non-appearance of the hi- deous spectre he expected to behold, Dr. Brew- ster gathered his cloak around him and walked forwards a few steps, looking carefully about on every side to reconnoitre the situation he was placed in, as well as to see what had become of his steed ; finding no trace of the animal he broke out into loud and horrible imprecations. He still trembled, and dared scarcely turn his eyes either to the right or to the left, but he went on ascending the hill till he became almost exhausted. After stopping for a minute to take breatlL he talked on and on till he reached the sumiuiji YOL. I. K. 194 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. of the hill, all the time keeping his eyes fixed on the earth ; but when he stood at the highest point he raised them almost as timidly as a blushing maiden would have done, — they lighted on a solitary figure standing within a few yards of him. He started and attempted to run away, but he could not move. His conscience smote him and he thought he would have given all he possessed if he could have been in his own home and in his own bed, in sleeping forgetfulness of all that had occurred within the last few days. At that moment the anguish of mind he experienced was almost beyond mortal endurance. The figure before him seemed that of a tall, gaunt and thin old woman, squalid and erect. The bright moon shewed distinctly every wrinkle in her face, and they were countless, puckering up her sallow visage whilst her piercingly black eyes shone with super- human lustre. Her face was almost covered by her long, loose hair; she had a dirty yellow cap on the top of her head, and her THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 195 gOAvn, if gown it could be called, Avas both torn and filthily dirty, and being her only clothing shewed her skeleton form. Her neck was bare and she drew a dirty ragged hand- kerchief around it, as if to shield her from the cold biting wind; she had neither shoe nor stocking on her ill-shaped feet and legs. In vain did the trembling Brewster attempt to speak ; his tongue refused to give utterance to his thoughts. Was this apparition flesh and blood, or was it superhuman ?. Was it an escaped Bedlamite, or a miserable, imbecile beggar ? In his present state of mind he was unable satisfactorily to answer the question. At leno^th the old woman, comino; nearer to Brewster, put forth her long scraggy arm, pro- truding from the dirty and torn sleeve, and beckoning with a long shrivelled finger, said, in a very shrill but exceedingly feeble tone : " Come ! come ! He wants a doctor — he wants you ! '' She signalled significantly to him three times, then, turning her back, walked, or ratlier sham- 196 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. bled towards the fir-trees, turning up her feet in a most extraordinary manner as she paced along. Brewster would have run away, but spite of the horror and alarm he felt, he could not move, neither could he shout for help as he wished to do, for his tongue clave to the roof of his mouth, and prevented his uttering the slightest sound. The hag turned and beckoned, him with the long, thin arm and shrivelled finger, and the wretched man, trembling from head to foot, his teeth chattering, followed, as if unable to resist, he knew not whither, for his terror took away from him all power of thinking. CHAPTER XVI. On and on went the squalid, shrivelled woman through the fir wood, every now and then looking behind her, beckoning on the wretched Brewster, and in her shrill voice saying, '^ Come on ! come on ! *' The uneven ground over which she went seemed familiar to her, and though the Doctor toiled and stumbled continually it seemed to give her no uneasiness, for she walked forward at a rapid rate, whilst he, the perspiration rolling from his head, would willingly have given up and cast himself down on the earth and wept with dismay, fatigue, and terror, only he felt lu-ged 198 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. on, he knew not Iioav, dreading wliat would be the end of his adventure ; and shud- dering with agony, as, in his alarm, he pic- tured to himself who the person was to whom he was to be conducted. On walked the spectral- looking old woman, and Brewster staggered after her ; for unac- customed to night walks through snow, over rough land, his feet were bruised, his shins hurt by the many falls, and his boots saturated with snow. However, bruised as he was, and frightened and angry, he went on becoming more bruised, more frightened, and more angry as he proceeded. At length his pitiless guide halted, and Brewster, in spite of his abhorrence, joined her and stood by her side. They had reached the outskirts of the wood. In front of them was a small open space or common, skirted at the further end by a wood of thick trees. The old hag took Brewster's hand with her long, cold, hard fingers, and, turning her eyes upon him, with a sardonic smile, and to his THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 199 disgust and dismay, putting her face so close to his, that he could feel her breath upon his cheek, said: — "Go in there ; the man who wants the Doctor is within ! " She pointed to a wretched-looking hovel, hidden in shade, and commenced snatches of songs, as Brewster went towards the place indicated, and looked idiotically at him, as, deprived of all power of resistance, he obeyed her mandate. When the doctor reached the door his terror was so great that he stood still ; his teeth chattering, his legs shaking, and his knees knockinor ao^ainst each other, whilst his hand trembled to such an extent when he raised it, that he was obliged to pause ere he could put his fingers upon the latch. At length he managed to push open the door, and cross the threshold, entering into a low room, if room it could be called, scarcely high enough for him to stand upright in mthout his head touching the roof The moon was shining 200 . THE RIVAL DOCTOKS. brightly through, what was meant to be a window, and lighted with her silver beams, so quiet and placid, the opposite side on which Brewster instantly fixed an intense gaze. The wind '>vas still blowino; throu^jh the iir- trees which, to his distempered mind brought only sounds of woe, howls, moans, and lamentations as smote him mth shivering horror. He attempted to close his eyes, but he could not. He wished he could die, but consciousness would not be shut out, his eyes would not close, and he stood staring wildly at the opposite side of the room, without the power of removing his gaze. At the side of the room on which Brewster was so fixedly gazing, lay a naked, emaciated body; the face was turned away, lying on the left arm, but the hair was long and white, and covered with blood, as was the arm, which was thrown back on the head. With trembling steps the miserable man advanced towards the other side of the hovel to look THE RIVAL DOCTOKS. 201 upon the face. He could scarcely breathe ; he was afraid of the beating of his heart. As he approached, the averted head turned slowly towards him, causing him to shriek with helpless horror shriek after shriek, and hiding his face with his hands, he threw him- self upon the ground. The face which had caused such terror was the pale, worn, livid fac2 of old Silverton. lie had dreaded, he had expected it, and now he was most com- pletely overcome by it. A touch that seemed to freeze every drop of blood in his body thrilled through him; a voice well known but wx^ak and trembling, said : — " Arise ! " He arose. The spectre stood beside him, and casting his arm around him, pressed his trembling body with a giant's strength, whilst the chill of death crept over him. The glazed, glaring eyes were upon him, and he tried in vain to Avithdraw his own ; the blue lips Avere half open, and drawn back, shewing, the teeth. K 5. 202 THE RIV^VL DOCTORS. "You committed a fearful deed ! " muttered the faint voice, ''and your crime will follow you whitliersoever you go. Do you think she will ever be yours ? Swear here, upon this spot, that you will give her up ! Swear ! she never can — she never shall be yours ! Swear ! '' The icy arm pressed the trembling man like a vice, whilst love and dread alternately held sway over him. In the midst of his fears the image of Mabel appeared to come before him, and to stir up the already burning flame within him, whilst the strong arm was around him, and the glaring eyes seemed to wear a more threatening look every moment he de- layed his answer. " Swear " repeated the spectre. '' I do," replied Brewster, his teeth chatter- ing, and his legs trembling, as he tried to re- lease himself from the iron grasp that held him. At this juncture the moon became obscured by a black cloud. In the dim light Brewster strained his eyes. He thought the face before THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 203 him became decomposed, and the horrors of the grave were before him. The arm relaxed its hold. He heard the sound of the hooting owl, and the shrill voice of the old hag who had guided him to the hovel, and who ap- peared as if approaching him through the storm of wind. He instantly turned, he reeled, and before the hesLvy cloud had passed from the moon, he lay fainting on the hard cold floor of the hovel. CHAPTER XVIL It was noon, and a faint and sickly winter's sun was throwing its feeble shadows over the snowy lands, thawing for the moment such portions of them as it reached; some few robins were twittering on the boughs, and the storm of wind had subsided when Doctor Brewster opened his eyes to something like consciousness. With pain and aching bones he arose, numbed and chilled, from the o^round, and it was some time ere he was able to unravel his dizzy wandering ideas. '^ I have had a most horrid dream," he thought, and he shuddered. ^' A horrible THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 205 dream ! — was it a dream ? If so, how hap- pens it that I am here ! If it be a truth, Heaven defend me from the harrowins: thought ! " The shrivelled old hag, with her lean arm and long bony finger ; the spectre, the howl- ing and moaning wind, the hooting owl, and the oath he had sworn, were all before his mind's eye. " A dream ! — a dream ! it was nothing but a dream," he said ; " the quantity of ale I drank, and my ride through the cold frosty air, confused my brain, and the horrors I have suffered were nothing more than a drunken man's phantasy — a dream— a nightmare, and nothing else. That horrid spectre of old Sil- verton, where can it have vanished to ? '' So saying, the bruised and feverish Doctor left the hovel,trpngtoassurehimself that what he had suffered was neither more nor less than the nightmare, a dream — yet he shivered at his dream, whilst scouting the idea that he had been terrified into relinquishing Mabel, and plung- 206 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. ing into the fir-wood, he scrambled through it, to find the high road and his lost horse, which, having got rid of his rider, had gone slowly on, and Brewster, after pushing his way through the fir-wood, and toiling along the high road, espied him quietly standing in a meadow, helping himself to a good feed from a hay-stack, under the shelter of which he ha^ passed a tranquil night, and awoke greatly refreshed^ unmolested by discovery, till his toil-worn master caught hold of his bridle and bestowing ahearty kick, led him to the road, and after two or three attempts mounted his back and rode off with a splitting headache in quest of the road to London. He was not a little surprised, after riding about five minutes, and coming to the top of a hill, to find that he was close to the very village he had left the previous evening. There it lay, the snow-covered thatch of the cottages looking dazzling in the rays of the sun, the church-spire pointing heavenward THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 207 and the dark yew trees, here and there peep- ing through the white snow, the crowing of a cock, or the barking of a dog, the only sounds that met his ear and his sight. Doctor Brewster did not care to look upon the church which covered that dark grave ; but although he turned his eyes in another direction, he could not restrain his thoughts, and he muttered : — " A dream ! — a drunken dream, truly only a drunken dream." Having no appetite but instead a racking headache, he did not venture into the village, or seek the little inn, but taking the road leading to London, he jogged quietly along, pondering over the various plans his brain suggested for wooing and winning the beautiful widow, every now and then, when his thoughts would force themselves into another channel, comforting himself by the words : " It was only a dream. Pshaw ! there are no such things as ghosts and spectres ! It was only a hideous dream !" The evening of that day Mabel sat beside 208 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. the fire, attired in her black dress and -svidow's- cap, and opposite to her the daughter of her late husband. Each held a book — the daughter-in-law read hers diligently, but the widow's rested on the table beside her, whilst she strove hard to ^:s. her attention upon its contents, and to find comfort therefrom ; and comfort she did find ; but ever and anon some passage would cut deeply into her sorrowing and afflicted heart, causing her to hide her face in her handkerchief, and shed torrents of tears. The widow's suppressed sobs fidgetted her daus^hter-in-law, who did not like to be fid- getted, and not being accustomed to conceal her vexations, she spoke with considerable harshness. " You are playing the part of a silly child, Mrs. Silverton ; such excessive grief is not seemly, and, in my opinion, more than the occasion calls for. What good can those tears and sobs do you or your departed husband ? If you weep oceans of tears they will never THE RIV.VL DOCTORS. 209 bring him back to you ; so what good can all your tears do ? " " He was my beloved husband," sobbed forth poor Mabel. " He was my father,'' interrupted the daughter ; " but I see no use of all those tears ; they are only fitting a child. I can bear his loss without such unmeaning sorrow. I have no patience with you. Pray, moderate your grief, for you disturb my reading, and I really cannot remain with you if you persist in making this turmoil about an evil for which there is no remedy ! '' Having thus given vent to her pent-up irri- tability, the old maid resumed her book, and the poor widow endeavoured to read hers, but her effort to do so was vain, her bursting heart would not be calmed except by another series of sobs and torrents of tears. Her gi^ief was too fresh to enable her to re- strain her feelings. The unamiable and angry daughter-in-law jumped up, closing her book with a loud re- 210 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. port, and seizing a heavy silver candlestick, left the room, saying, in a loud harsh voice, as she closed the door : — " Your childish weakness and folly are past endurance. I wish you a good night ! " Banging the door with a loud report she shambled off to her own apartment, leaving the distressed^ unhappy widow to her own solitary companionship to ponder and to weep. *^ Alas ! alas ! " she thought, " I have now no one on earth to care for me ; and my dear, dear, kind, good husband can never return to me. I am indeed alone in the world without the love or affection of any human being. Yet, I have one great comfort,'' and she put her hand upon the Bible she had been trying to read, " but that is not of this world. I must have patience. I wish I could be calm, but grief and tears must be mine for awhile ! " Mabel again wept, and then she thought of Brewster, and his tender, soothing words, and gained some consolation therefrom; and re- THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 211 membored his whispered promise to her that he would be a friend and protector, and never forsake her. Time wore on, and she dwelt with great comfort on the idea of having one friend upon whom she could rely in her desolation, till she felt something like a gleam of joy^ when the door slowly and softly opened, and a silent servinor-man crave entrance to Doctor Brew- ster. "It is very late, Mrs. Silverton," he com- menced, in his most honeyed manner, at the same time taking both her hands in his, and looking at her with a kind, s}Tnpathising air, " but I could not allow ths day to pass over without cominof to see vou, and trv and comfort you in your grief and overwhelming sorrow." Mabel did not speak, but she thanked him through her tearful eyes and her sighs ; and he sighed heavily in reply, and placed himself before the fire by her side. " I saw your lamented husband given to 212 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. earth,'' he murmured, "and I thought of you and your sadness and tears, and I assure you mine fell fast for you at the time, and I Avished most heartily I could comfort and console you ; I would have given the whole world, had it been mine to give, if I could have brought the dead to life again, for your sake," and he heaved a sigh on his own ac- count. The poor widow all this time had hidden her face in her handkerchief, so Brewster kept his gaze fixedly upon her, and as his passion grew hotter and hotter, he thought of the promise he had given to the spectre, and he scouted the idea of giving up such a Ioa ely creature, for all the ghosts that ever appeared on earth, including the Witch of Endor. " Be- sides, it was only a dream." " Dear Mrs. Singleton," he continued, after a lengthened pause, and placing his hand softly on her arm, " I w^ould not if I could stay your tears ; the sadness of your soul calls them forth, and they are rightly shed ; but THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 21S after a while I would entreat you to bear up against your sad bereavement, for it is neither wise nor right to repine too long or too mueli at the will of Heaven.'' " Oh ! Doctor Brewster, I know not how to thank you for your great kindness, nor what to say, for I feel so sorrowful and so be- reaved — as if I should never again recover either calmness or happiness — the whole world seems a blank to me." " You must not say so. You are not en- tirely bereaved. You shall find in me a friend and a brother — ves, a father and a husband ; you shall not be alone. Trust in me, I will give my time and my energies if you will let me comfort and console you, if you will only repose in me." " Dear Doctor Brewster, how can I thank you sufficiently. Your Avords are my only comfort. I will indeed put all my trust in you. After my first sorrow is over I will try and be calm and resigned to the will of 214 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. Heaven ; but oh ! my kind friend, I feel very ^vretched now." Brewster sighed a pitying sigh, and leaning his arm on the back of her chair, commenced compassionating her and soothing her with his blandest tones, and endeavouring to make a good impression upon her by shewing oiF his tenderness of heart, and the deep and friendly interest he took in her and her sorrow. Mabel, not in the slightest degree suspecting the exciting cause of all this shew of feeling, thought of him, what for the moment he Avished to apj^ear, and when she retired at nii^^ht thouofht of him with i2:ratitude ; and he, on his part, left her more deeply in love than ever ; and the more his passion gained upon him the more determined he became that she should be his wife. CHAPTER XVIIL In spite of all his vauntings ^vlien in the presence of the widow, Doctor Brewster, on his way home through the deserted streets, felt wretched. Harrowino^ thoughts beoran once more to take possession of his mind. The fatigue which he had endured pained his body, and the cold, the falls and bruises of the previous night, caused great stiffness and suffering, and he shuddered at the remem- brance of what had occurred. " What an idiot I am," he exclaimed as he turned do^n a narrow, dark street, a short cut to his own house, lookins^ somewhat terri- 216 THE mVAIu DOCTORS. fied over liis shoulder as he hurried on " what a fool I am to let a silly dream take such hold of my imagination — I am worse than a child, ha ! ha ! ha !'' and he attempted an encouraging laugh, or rather titter, which died away before it came to maturity, and he began to run as if to escape from his OAvn thoughts ; but he could not, he carried them with him, in spite of all his struggles to get rid of them. " I am out of health, and the weakness of my body is telling upon my mind. Pshaw ! dead men tell no tales, neither do they move, and yet I tremble like a school-boy — curse it ! what a fool I am. Upon my life, I never saw any woman look half as lovely as Mabel did to-night ! what exquisite white hands ! what a beauteous neck, and what a foot and ankle ! she shall be mine ! I swear !" Here the current of his thoughts reverted to his oath, but after a moment he went on '' yes, she shall be mine — mine, dear Mabel, mine ! none on earth can or shall prevent it — My own ! Give her THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 217 Up ? What a fool I am to think of that oath, it was a silly dream. ' Oh ! that man should put an enemy in his mouth to steal away his brains'. I was fool enough to do so, and what with the strong ale and the cold sharp frost, I was overcome : my constitution was too weak ! That wretched old Bedlamite. I cer- tainly saw her ! How came I in that hovel ? That fearful spectre I his iron grasp — his ghastly eyes ! What fearful, terrible things are dreams ! But were I to dream ten times more horrible dreams than the one I did, I would not give up my love. Ill woo and win her, creep into her heart whilst she sorrows and grieves over the loss of her late husband. I will marry her, she shall be mine. Oh ! how she will dote on me ; how she will cling to me as her best earthly support ; how she will long for my return when I have left her for awhile to go to my patients ! oh ! Mabel I Mabel !"' On he rushed, but could not out-srrip liis conscience, the horrors of the previous night Vol. I. L 218 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. clung to him, and when at length he reached his home, he gave such furious tugs at the bell, as nearly to break the wire, and when the servant opened the door he rushed past and ran straight to his room, with the intention of taking some soothing mixture. His man Thomas followed, lighted candle in hand. Stopping short, Brewster roared out : " What the devil do you want ? What are you muttering about — speak up.'' " Mr. Smith's old woman be here sheVe bin here over an hour, and she says she thinks the old gentleman must be gone by this time, he was so mortal bad when she left him." " Curse them all !" he muttered to himself, but he went to the messenger and made enquiry concerning her master. The old woman declared that the sick man was as bad as a sick man could be, and urged Brewster to go at once and see him. The Doctor tried every device, every lie he could think of, to get off, promising to call the first THE mVAL DOCTORS. 219 thing in the morning, but all to no purpose — She persevered and at length talked of going to Doctor Jenkins which at once settled the matter ; and Brewster, stiff, tired and weary, stifled his feelinsrs and went Avith the old woman who stepped on at a good round pace, and the surgeon stalked after her through short cuts and narrow streets, so narrow that the bright moon-light scarcely illumined them Here and there a light might be seen in a bed-room window ; but scarcely a soul was in the streets. His dread thickened and grew upon him. His heart began to beat, and his fanc}' again teemed with horrors. He spoke not and his guide turned to see if he followed. Could it be, or did his fears deceive him? The face was that of the old hag who had led him the night before. She had looked at him and grinned vacantly on him as on that night. His staring eyes were fixed upon her. There he saw the shrivelled arm, the long, bony, finger, the squalid misery of his former giiid<'. He gasped, and would have stopped, 1)ut he L 3 220 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. seemed deprived of all power to do so. On he went and in his terrified state, the snatches of songs in her cracked and trembling voice, sounded in his ears. Street after street was passed, till at length the old hag stopped before Smith's door, where Brewster tremblingly joined her. "Fool and coward that I am," he mentally exclaimed, as he stood by her, and by the light of the moon, which fell full on his com- panion's face, he discovered Smith's old servant, "to fear and tremble at following a poor helpless old woman — oh ! my foolish heart so to deceive me ! My fears make a very child of me ! I will rouse myself and not again yield to such fancies.'' " Walk up, Doctor," said a second old woman, in a low tone, who had opened the door. " I think he be sleeping now, for he haven't stirred for some long time." Brewster, taking the light, hurried up stairs, whilst the two old women turned into a small room on the ground floor, THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 221 where they were not long in producing a bunch of keys, and unlocking a small cupboard : the jingling of glasses and a bottle of something stronger than water was put upon the table, whereon a jug of hot water stood, with both of which a mixture was concocted apparently very palatable to the woman who had come through the cold with the Doctor, and which she declared she took to keep the cold air from settling on her stomach ; and her companion followed her example, saying she did not like drinkinfj when alone, and both thous-ht it a pleasant way of filling up time, till the Doctor should return from the sick chamber, when they proposed that he should partake of their innocent drink, as he had been a long way in the cold frosty air. Mr. Smith was an old invalid bachelor, and these tAvo crones, who were sisters, served him one as housekeeper, cook, and butler, the other as valet, nurse and maid of all work, and a very pleasant life they led, bullying their bachelor master when he happened to be 222 THE RIVAL DOCTORS. cross, living comfortably upon all the good things the gods provided for the comfort of the household, and looking forward to the time when Smith should die and they come into possession of the ample legacies, they knew he had j^ut them down for in his will. They sat with feet upon the fender sipping their strong drink, and whispering to each other, and wondering what kept Dr. Brewster so long in their master's room, w hilst the wind without seemed to them to make a sad, moaning noise. They replenished their glasses. "He's a long time," said the nurse and valet, " I can't think what he's about all this time. PerhajDS he may want one of us." " May be he does " replied the butler. " Then he must come for us " said the nurse and valet, " for we're not expected to know what he w^ants if he don't trouble himself to tell us.'' And the two continued to sip in silence. THE RIVAL DOCTORS. 226 " Master can't last much longer, I should think," said the butler, after a few more sips, turnino^ and twistino^ the glass about to observe the oily liquor on the sides. " I thouo^ht he was a'oino^ twice to-ni