“Such a poor, thin, weak creature as she was till I began to nurse her.”
“The change worked wonders,” I said.
“Yes, of course, it did her good, sir; but no change is of any good without plenty of nursing.”
I saw that I was touching on tender ground, and was trying to think of a fresh subject, when loud, blustering voices outside made both Esau and me get up to see, for there was evidently an angry altercation going on just inside the gate.
“I have told you plainly,” Mr Raydon was saying as we drew near. “This is neither an hotel nor a liquor-bar, and you cannot have it here.”
“Well, you might be civil,” said a voice which made me start and feel puzzled as to where I had heard it before. “Not going to refuse travellers a shelter or a glass of liquor, are you?”
Esau gave my arm a jerk, but I did not look at him, for my attention was taken up by Mr Raydon, who was facing, with Grey and two more of the men, a party of a dozen roughs.
“You do not want shelter on a fine night like this, and I have no spirits except to use for medicine.”
“That’s right,” said the familiar voice. “Medicine—physic—that’s what we want; drop o’ spirits for medicine—eh, lads?”
There was a chorus of laughter at this, and the men began to press forward.