Doctor Thorne

ger Sc

jury done to his sister, had become a great man in the world. He had become a contractor, first for little things, such as half a mile or so of a railway embankment, or three or fou

then with another for another; but had, on the whole, kept his interes

of a railway to be made in half the time that such work would properly demand, some speculation to be incurred requiring great means and courage as well, and Roger Scatcherd had been found to be the man for the time. He was then elevated for

his exertions and the Queen's prerogative, "let's have a bit of dinner, and a drop of som'at hot." Now t

In this only had he changed, that now he would work, and some said equally well, whether he were drunk or sober. Those who were mostly inclined to make a miracle of him-and there was a school of worshippers ready to adore him as their idea of a divine, superhuman, miracle-moving, inspired prophet-declared that his wondrous work was best done, his calculations most quickly and most truly made, that he saw with most accurate eye into the fa

constructing a harbour to hold all the commerce of Lancashire, or to make a railway from Bombay to Canton. "Scatcherd has been drunk this week past; I am told

llowed; for in latter life, when he drank heavily, he drank alone-however little for evil, or however much for good the working of his brain might be affected, his body suffered greatly. It was not that he became feeble or emaciated, old-looking or inactive, that his hand shook, or that his eye was watery; but that in the moments of his intemperance his life was often not worth a day's purchase. The frame which God h

ith him, nor even frequently talked with him. Their pursuits in life were wide asunder. Their tastes were all different. The society in which each moved very

he put no trust whatever in his friend's counsel, in his modes of thought; none in his theory, and none in his practice. He disliked his friend's counsel, and, in fact, disliked his society, for his friend was somewhat apt to speak to him in a manner approaching to severity. Now Roger Scatcherd had done many things in the world, and made much money; whereas his

as our frien

ficient feeling also to know that the doctor behaved very well. This communication had in different ways been kept up between them. Soon after the trial Scatcherd had begun to rise, and his first savings had been ent

. The doctor was, and long had been, Sir Roger's medical attendant, and, in his unceasing attempts to rescue the dr

osition in which he could bring his violence to bear. With this view he was about to contest his native borough of Barchester, i

ce, and was able to address the men of Barchester in language that would come home to their hearts, in words that would endear him to one party while they made him offensively odious to the other; but Mr Moffat could make neither friends nor enemies by his eloquence. The Barchester r

He had been called there to a consultation with Dr Century, that amiable old gentleman having so far f

uire's further loan, but also to exercise his medical skill. Sir Roger having been declared contractor for cutting a canal from sea to sea, through the

eman, and he did much of his work on horseback. The fact that he occasionally took a day with the East Barsetshires, and that

kfast-parlour in the rear of the house. The show-rooms of Boxall Hill were furnished most magnificently, but they were set apart for company; and a

f voice; "just bad enough. There's been some'at at the back of his head, rapping, and rapp

e in

then, he don't seem to be quite right yet about the legs, so he hasn't got up; but he's got that Winterbones with

o an ash. Mind he had none left, nor care for earthly things, except the smallest modicum of substantial food, and the largest allowance of liquid sustenance. All that he had ever known he had forgotten, except how to count up figures and to write: the results of his counting and his writing never stayed with him fr

bones away, I take i

lse out of the way. There is Scatcherd, he takes brandy; and there is Winterbon

and the doctor were on very familiar terms a

am here, will you?

f sherry before you g

thank you," s

ps, a litt

hing, thank you; I

g from some recess under a sideboard a bottle of bra

en this argument failed, she led

the ci-devant Barchester stone-mason saluted his coming friend. The voice was loud and powerful, but not clear and sonorous. What voice that is nurtured on brandy can ever be clear? I

h bout of it, as her ladyship there no doubt has told you. Let her alone to make the worst of it

you're something b

call something. I never was better

s for Winterbones, he has no business here up in your bedroom, which stinks of g

ing from his libations, might be seen to deposit surreptitiously beneath t

t of feeling his pulse, but was drawing quite as much information fro

he London office," said he. "Lady Scatcherd wil

nes does anything of the kind," sa

my duty to suggest measures for putting off the ceremony as l

s he spoke there came a fierce gleam from his eye, which seemed to say-"If that's t

at way, don't," said Lady Scatcherd

s better-half, knowing that the province of a woman is to obey, did cut it. But as she went she gave the doc

the very best," said he, as the door

f it," said

ut good or bad, there are some things which a woman can't underst

uld be anxious about

. "She'll be very well off. All that whi

ed his medical examination. To this the patient su

a new leaf, Sir Rog

" said S

do my duty to you, whet

m to pay you for try

stand such shocks a

use, by G––––, you may stay there for me. When I take a drop,-that is if I ever do, it does not stand in the way of work." So Mr Winterbone

en as near your God, as any man ever was w

e railway hero, appare

have; inde

'm all rig

fuse to carry you? All right! why the blood is still beating round you

thinking himself to be differently organised from ot

hers he objected violently, and to one or two he flatly refused to listen. The great stumbling-block was this, that total abstin

, you will certainly have recourse to the stimulus of

think I can't work w

n the room at this moment, and that you h

fellow's gin,"

our veins," said the doctor, who sti

bed so as to get away from his Mentor, a

r; I've made up my mind, and I'l

"send for Fillgrave. Your case is one

me under your thumb in other days. You're a very good fellow, Tho

viser, I can only tell you the truth to the best of my thinking. Now the truth is this, that another bout of

nd for F

this, that whatever you do, you should do at once. Oblige me in this; l

k I can't have a bottle of bran

s likely to swig it if

half-paralysed limbs would let him; and then, after a few

ld have the best advice he can get. I'll have Fillgrave, and I'll have th

was serious, he could not help smiling at the malicious v

the expense? I suppose five or six

Sir Roger, will you allow me to suggest what you o

l a man he's dying and joking in the sa

But if you have not

onfidence in

to London? Expense

bject; a gr

icron Pie: send for some man whom yo

lgrave all my life, and I trust him. I'll send for Fillgrave and put my ca

w, good-bye, Scatcherd; and as you do send for him, give him a fa

and his; not yours,

before I go. I wish you well through it, an

alking to Lady Scatcherd downstairs I know; now, no no