I thocht I was a gentleman a' at ance.'
'Haud ye at it, man,' said Robert, as if from the heights of age and
experience, 'and maybe ye will be a gentleman some day.'
'Is 't poassible, Robert? A crater like me grow intil a gentleman?'
said Shargar, with wide eyes.
'What for no?' returned Robert.
'Eh, man!' said Shargar.
He stood up, sat down again, and was silent.
'For ae thing,' resumed Robert, after a pause, during which he had
been pondering upon the possibilities of Shargar's future--'for ae
thing, I doobt whether Dr. Anderson wad hae ta'en ony fash aboot ye,
gin he hadna thocht ye had the makin' o' a gentleman i' ye.'
'Eh, man!' said Shargar.
He stood up again, sat down again, and was finally silent.
Next day Robert went to see Dr. Anderson, and told him about
Ericson. The doctor shook his head, as doctors have done in such
cases from ?sculapius downwards. Robert pressed no further
questions.
'Will he be taken care of where he is?' asked the doctor.
'Guid care o',' answered Robert.
'Has he any money, do you think?'
'I hae nae doobt he has some, for he's been teachin' a' the summer.
The like o' him maun an' will work whether they're fit or no.'
'Well, at all events, you write, Robert, and give him the hint that
he's not to fash himself about money, for I have more than he'll
want. And you may just take the hint yourself at the same time,
Robert, my boy,' he added in, if possible, a yet kinder tone.
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