RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



their professional horrors, and into their 

 proper work ; and in them pity, as an emotion, 

 ending in itself or at best in tears and a 

 long-drawn breath, lessens, while pity, as a 

 motive, is quickened, and gains power and pur- 

 pose. It is well for poor human nature that 

 it is so. 



The operating theatre is crowded ; much 

 talk and fun, and all the cordiality and stir of 

 youth. The surgeon with his staff of assist- 

 ants is there. In comes Ailie : one look at her 

 quiets and abates the eager students. That 

 beautiful old woman is too much for them ; 

 they sit down, and are dumb, and gaze at her. 

 These rough boys feel the power of her pres- 

 ence. She walks in quickly, but without haste ; 

 dressed in her mutch, her neckerchief, her white 

 dimity short-gown, her black bombazeen petti- 

 coat, showing her white worsted stockings and 

 her carpet shoes. Behind her was James with 

 Rab. James sat down in the distance, and 

 took that huge and noble head between his 

 knees. Rab looked perplexed and danger- 



