“Thou should not have sanctioned it.”
“Ian did right, Rahal. I did right to sanction it.”
“Father, if Ian has a clear plan of success before him, what is it? He ought to have told us.”
“He thought it out while we were at sea, he asked me to explain the matter to you. It is, indeed, a plan so simple and manifest, that I wonder we did not propose it at the very first. You must recollect that Ian was in the employ of Dr. Finlay of Edinburgh for three years and a half, and that during that period he acquired both a large amount of medical knowledge and also of medical experience. Now we all know that Ian 282 has a special gift for this science, especially for its surgical side, and he is not going to the trenches or the cavalry, he is going to offer himself to the Surgical and Medical Corps. He will go to the battlefield, carry off the wounded, give them first help, or see them to the hospital. In this way he will be doing constant good to others and yet be forwarding the career which is to make his future happy and honourable.”
“Then Ian has decided to be a surgeon, Father?”
“Yes, and I can tell thee, Thora, he has not set himself a task beyond his power. I think very highly of Ian, no one could help doing so; and see here, Thora! I have a letter in my pocket for thee! He gave it to me as I bid him good-bye at Spithead.”
“I am so happy, Father! So happy!”
“Thou hast good reason to be happy. We shall all be proud of Ian in good time.”
“Did thou give Ian’s letter to his father’s hands, or did thou mail it, Coll?”
“I gave it to him, personally.”