'Yersel, sir?' stipulated Shargar.
'Yes, myself.'
'Afore nicht?'
'Directly,' answered the doctor, and Shargar yielded.
'But what will Robert say?' were his last words, as he fell asleep, appreciating, no doubt, the superiority of the bed to his usual lair upon the hearthrug.
Robert was delighted to hear how well Shargar had acquitted himself. Followed a small consultation about him; for the accident had ripened the doctor's intentions concerning the outcast.
'As soon as his arm is sound again, he shall go to the grammar-school,' he said.
'An' the college?' asked Robert.
'I hope so,' answered the doctor. 'Do you think he will do well? He has plenty of courage, at all events, and that is a fine thing.'
'Ow ay,' answered Robert; 'he's no ill aff for smeddum (spirit)—that is, gin it be for ony ither body. He wad never lift a han' for himsel'; an' that's what garred me tak till him sae muckle. He's a fine crater. He canna gang him lane, but he'll gang wi' onybody—and haud up wi' him.'