The old face was feebly lifted a bit from the pillow, and the dark eyes grew suddenly sharp in their scrutiny. "Who be ye, anyhow? What aire ye here fer? Sech as you knows a heap a'ready 'thout makin' out to larn o' we-uns." David saw his mistake and hastened to allay the suspicion which gleamed out at him almost malignantly. "I am just what I said, a doctor like Adam Hoyle, only that I don't know as much as he—not yet. The wisest man in the world can learn more if he watches out to do so. Your herb doctors might be able to teach me a good many things." "I 'spect ye're right thar, on'y a heap o' folks thinks they knows it all fust." There was a pause, and Thryng leaned back in his stiff, splint-bottomed chair and glanced around him. He saw that the girl, although moving about setting to rights and brushing here and there with an unique, home-made broom, was at the same time intently listening. Presently the old woman spoke again, her threadlike voice penetrating far. "What do you 'low to do here in ouah mountains? They hain't no settlement nighabouts here, an' them what's sick hain't no money to pay doctahs with. I reckon they'll hev to stay sick fer all o' you-uns." David looked into her eyes a moment quietly; then he smiled. The way to her heart he saw was through the magic of one name. "What did Doctor Hoyle do when he was down here?" "Him? They hain't no one livin' like he was." Then David laughed outright, a gay, contagious laugh, and after an instant she laughed also. "I agree with you," he said. "But you see, I am a countryman of his, and he sent me here—he knows me well—and I mean to do as he did, if—I can." He drew in a deep breath of utter weariness, and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands, and gazed into the blazing fire. The memories which had taken possession of his soul during the long ride seemed to envelop him so that in a moment the present was swept away into oblivion and his spirit was, as it were, suddenly withdrawn from the body and projected into[Pg 15] the past. He had been unable to touch any of the greasy cold stuff which had been offered him during the latter
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