Quick as thought, the surgeon laid his hand upon the pistol and removed
it to a safe distance. He then bent over the sick man, examining him with
his penetrating eyes; and what he saw struck him with consternation so
great, that he sat down on a chair to recover himself, albeit not liable
to be overcome by emotion.
When he left the shed--which was not for nearly half-an-hour after he had
entered it--he heard voices at Clerk Gum's front-door. The storm was
over, and their visitor was departing. Mr. Hillary took a moment's
counsel with himself, then crossed the stile and appeared amongst them.
Nodding to the three collectively, he gravely addressed the clerk and his
wife.
"I have come here to ask, in the name of our common humanity, whether you
will put aside your prejudices, and be Christians in a case of need," he
began. "I don't forget that once, when an epidemic was raging in Calne,
you"--turning to the wife--"were active and fearless, going about and
nursing the sick when almost all others held aloof. Will you do the same
now by a helpless man?"
The woman trembled all over. Clerk Gum looked questioningly at the
doctor. Mrs. Jones was taking in everything with eyes and ears.
"This neighbour of yours has caught the fever. Some one must attend to
him, or he will lie there and die. I thought perhaps you'd do it, Mrs.
Gum, for our Saviour's sake--if from no other motive.
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