Shargar went to bed early
and got up early, so as to let Robert have a few hours' sleep before
his classes began. Robert again slept in the evening, after Shargar
came home, and made up for the time by reading while he sat by his
friend. Mrs. Fyvie's attendance was in requisition only for the
hours when he had to be at lectures. By the greatest economy of
means, consisting of what Shargar brought in by jobbing about the
quay and the coach-offices, and what Robert had from Dr. Anderson
for copying his manuscript, they contrived to procure for Ericson
all that he wanted. The shopping of the two boys, in their utter
ignorance of such delicacies as the doctor told them to get for him,
the blunders they made as to the shops at which they were to be
bought, and the consultations they held, especially about the
preparing of the prescribed nutriment, afforded them many an amusing
retrospect in after years. For the house was so full of lodgers,
that Robert begged Mrs. Fyvie to give herself no trouble in the
matter. Her conscience, however, was uneasy, and she spoke to Dr.
Anderson; but he assured her that she might trust the boys. What
cooking they could not manage, she undertook cheerfully, and refused
to add anything to the rent on Shargar's account.
Dr. Anderson watched everything, the two boys as much as his
patient. He allowed them to work on, sending only the wine that was
necessary from his own cellar. The moment the supplies should begin
to fail, or the boys to look troubled, he was ready to do more.
Pages:
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356