"I should think he might be—and like adamant at others," I said, and began to put the room to rights.
XIV
"We shall miss the Doctor no end," said Jamie ruefully.
We caught the last wave of his hand; the pung's broad fur-behung back could no longer be seen; the jingle of the bells grew fainter; soon there was silence.
"He promised to come again in February. And, now, what next?" I turned to Mrs. Macleod who was standing with Jamie at the window.
"There does n't seem to be any 'next'?" she answered with such evident dejection that Jamie and I laughed at her.
"Take heart, mither," her son admonished her, using for the first time in my presence the softer Scotch for mother.
"It's been such a pleasant week for us—and I find Mr. Ewart so different; not that I mean to criticize our host," she added hastily and apologetically. She seemed to take pleasure in refusing to be comforted for the loss of the Doctor's cheering presence.
"Of course he 's different; there can't be two Doctor Rugvies in this needy world; but you wait till you know Ewart better, mother. Talk about 'what next'! You 'll find as soon as Ewart sets things humming here there 'll be plenty of the 'next'; Cale can give you a point or two on that already. By the way, he seems to have sworn allegiance to Ewart; he does n't have time for me now."