RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



decently down from the table, looks for James ; 

 then, turning to the surgeon and the students, 

 she curtsies and, in a low, clear voice, begs 

 their pardon if she has behaved ill. The stu- 

 dents all of us wept like children ; the sur- 

 geon happed her up carefully ; and, resting 

 on James and me, Ailie went to her room, Rab 

 following. We put her to bed. James took 

 off his heavy shoes, crammed with tackets, heel- 

 capt and toe-capt, and put them carefully under 

 the table, saying, " Maister John, I'm for nane 

 o' yer strynge nurse-bodies for Ailie. I'll be 

 her nurse, and I'll gang aboot on my stockin' 

 soles as canny as pussy." And so he did ; and 

 handy and clever, and swift and tender as any 

 woman, was that horny-handed, snell, peremp- 

 tory little man. Everything she got he gave 

 her : he seldom slept ; and often I saw his 

 small shrewd eyes out of the darkness, fixed 

 on her. As before, they spoke little. 



Rab behaved well, never moving, showing 

 us how meek and gentle he could be, and 

 occasionally, in his sleep, letting us know that 



3 1 



