RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



and James outside the circle Rab being now 

 reconciled, and even cordial, and having made 

 up his mind that as yet nobody required 

 worrying, but, as you may suppose, semper 

 paratus. 



So far well : but, four days after the opera- 

 tion, my patient had a sudden and long 

 shivering, a "groosin'," as she called it. J 

 saw her soon after ; her eyes were too bright, 

 her cheek coloured ; she was restless, and 

 ashamed of being so ; the balance was lost ; 

 mischief had begun. On looking at the 

 wound, a blush of red told the secret ; her 

 pulse was rapid, her breathing anxious and 

 quick, she wasn't herself, as she said, and was 

 vexed at her restlessness. We tried what we 

 could. James did everything, was every- 

 where ; never in the way, never out of it ; 

 Rab subsided under the table into a dark 

 place, and was motionless, all but his eye, 

 which followed every one. Ailie got worse ; 

 began to wander in her mind, gently, was 

 more demonstrative in her ways to James, 



33 



