“What wud ye say, wumman, gin yon graund lady hes been twice a-day at the hospital speirin' for you, kerridge an' a', mind ye; but ye ken they 're terrible busy in thae places, an' canna aye get time tae cairry the messages.
“But that's no a',” for the glow on Lily's face was kindling Jamie's inspiration, and he saw no use for economy in a good work. “What think ye o' this for a luck-penny? twenty pund exact, an' a' in goud; it looks bonnie glintin' in the licht,” and Jamie emptied on the table the store of sovereigns he had brought from Muirtown bank, without shame.
“The mistress surely never sent that... tae me?” Lily whispered.
“Maybe a' pickit it up on the street; they think awa in the country the verra streets are goud here. 'Give her this from us all,' were her verra words,” said Jamie, whose conscience had abandoned the unequal struggle with his heart. “'Tell her that she's to get whatever she likes with it, and to go down to her home for a long holiday.'”
“Did ye thank her, Jamie? Nae man hes a better tongue.”
“Ma tongue never servit me better; sall, ye wud hae been astonished gin ye hed herd me,” with the emphasis of one who stood at last on the rock of truth.
“A'm rael content noo,” Lily said, “but a' canna speak mair, an' a've something tae say that 'ill no keep till the morn.” and Jamie promised to return that evening.
Jamie waited in the hall till the last of the famous physician's patients had gone; then he went in and said:
“When a' entered this hoose ma hert wes sair, for a' thocht a defenceless lassie hed been ill-used in her straits, an' noo a' wud like to apologeese for ma hot words. Ye've dune a gude work the day that's no for the like o' me to speak aboot, but it 'ill hae its reward frae the Father o' the fatherless.”
“Toots, man, what nonsense is this you 're talking?” said Sir Andrew; “you don't understand the situation. The fact is, I wanted to study Lily's case, and it was handier to have her in my house. Just medical selfishness, you know.”