"As Allston had his hand on the bell-pull, the door was opened and a visitor passed out, immediately followed by a coarse-looking person with a large, shaggy head of hair, whom Allston at once took for a domestic. He accordingly enquired if Mr. Abernethy was in.
"'What do you want of Mr. Abernethy?' demanded this uncouth-looking person with the harshest possible Scotch accent.
"'I wished to see him,' gently replied Allston, somewhat shocked by the coarseness of his reception. 'Is he at home?'
"'Come in, come in, mon,' said the same uncouth personage.
"'But he may be engaged,' responded Allston. 'Perhaps I had better call another time.'
"'Come in, mon, I say,' replied the person addressed; and, partly by persuasion and partly by force, Allston, followed by Morse, was induced to enter the hall, which they had no sooner done than the person who admitted them closed the street door, and, placing his back against it, said:—
"'Now, tell me what is your business with Mr. Abernethy. I am Mr.
Abernethy.'
"'I have come to consult you,' replied Allston, 'about an affection—'
"'What the de'il hae I to do with your affections?' bluntly interposed
Abernethy.
"'Perhaps, Mr. Abernethy,' said Allston, by this time so completely overcome by the apparent rudeness of the eminent surgeon as to regret calling on him at all, 'you are engaged at present, and I had better call again.'