RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



the hospital, when I saw the large gate open, 

 and in walked Rab, with that great and easy 

 saunter of his. He looked as if taking 

 general possession of the place ; like the 

 Duke of Wellington entering a subdued city, 

 satiated with victory and peace. After him 

 came Jess, now white from age, with her cart ; 

 and in it a woman carefully wrapped up 

 the carrier leading the horse anxiously, and 

 looking back. When he saw me, James (for 

 his name was James Noble) made a curt and 

 grotesque "boo," and said, "Maister John, this 

 is the mistress; she's got a trouble in her breest 

 some kind o' an income we're thinkin'." 



By this time I saw the woman's face ; she 

 was sitting on a sack filled with straw, with her 

 husband's plaid round her, and his big-coat, 

 with its large white metal buttons, over her 

 feet. 



I never saw a more unforgetable face pale, 

 serious, lonely* delicate, sweet, without being 



* It is not easy giving this look by one word ; it was 

 expressive of her being so much of her life alone. 



22 



