RAB AND HIS FRIENDS.

The operating theatre is crowded ; much
talk and fun, and all the cordiality and
stir of youth. The surgeon with his staff
of assistants is there. In comes Ailie:
one look at her quiets and abates the
eager students. That beautiful old wom-
an is too much for them; they sit down,
and are dumb, and gaze at her. These
rough boys feel the power of her presence.
She walks in quickly, but without haste ;
dressed in her mutch, her neckerchief, her
white dimity short-gown, her black bom-
bazine petticoat, showing her white wors-
ted stockings and her carpet shoes. Be-
hind her was James with Rab. James sat
down in the distance, and took that huge
and noble head between his knees. Rab
looked perplexed and dangerous ; forever
cocking his ear and dropping it as fast.

Ailie stepped up on a seat and laid her-
self on the table, as her friend the surgeon
told her, arranged herself, gave a rapid

25