Let me be broken if need be, that thy
light may shine upon the lies which men tell them in thy name, and
which eat away their hearts.'
Having persuaded Shargar to remain with Mrs. Falconer for a few
days, and thus remove the feeling of offence she still cherished
because of his 'munelicht flittin',' he returned to Dr. Anderson,
who now unfolded his plans for him. These were, that he should
attend the medical classes common to the two universities, and at
the same time accompany him in his visits to the poor. He did not
at all mean, he said, to determine Robert's life as that of a
medical man, but from what he had learned of his feelings, he was
confident that a knowledge of medicine would be invaluable to him.
I think the good doctor must have foreseen the kind of life which
Falconer would at length choose to lead, and with true and admirable
wisdom, sought to prepare him for it. However this may be, Robert
entertained the proposal gladly, went into the scheme with his whole
heart, and began to widen that knowledge of and sympathy with the
poor which were the foundation of all his influence over them.
For a time, therefore, he gave a diligent and careful attendance
upon lectures, read sufficiently, took his rounds with Dr. Anderson,
and performed such duties as he delegated to his greater strength.
Had the healing art been far less of an enjoyment to him than it
was, he could yet hardly have failed of great progress therein; but
seeing that it accorded with his best feelings, profoundest
theories, and loftiest hopes, and that he received it as a work
given him to do, it is not surprising that a certain faculty of
cure, almost partaking of the instinctive, should have been rapidly
developed in him, to the wonder and delight of his friend and
master.
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