RAB AND HIS FRIENDS.

look at James, shut her eyes, rested her-
self on me, and took my hand. The op-
eration was at once begun ; it was neces-
sarily slow, and chloroform—one of God’s
best gifts to his suffering children—was
then unknown. The surgeon did his work.
The pale face showed its pain, but was
still and silent. Rab’s soul was working
within him ; he saw that something strange
was going on—blood flowing from his mis-
tress, and she suffering; his ragged ear
was up and importunate ; he growled and
gave now and then a sharp, impatient
yelp ; he would have liked to have done
something to that man. But James had
him firm, and gave him a glower from time
to time, and an intimation of a possible
kick—all the better for James; it kept his
eye and his mind off Ailie.

It is over : she is dressed, steps gently
and decently down from the table, looks
for James, then, turning to the surgeon

26