'More than ever now the physician must have a knowledge of the soul; must feel with finer, other pulses; and measure heats and chills which no thermometer can gauge. The mind, the passions are his study; unwitting of these, or unregardful, half his work, often the largest half, is unperformed. Calm himself, he must, for his fellowmen know ambition and despair; must feel how fiercely burns desire, and with what a leaden weight failure seals up the springs of life. And his soul, too, must thrill with another's joy, lest he ascribe fancied powers to his drugs, and turn the very gladness of one man to the mortal damage of another.'-JAMES HINTON. 121 CHAPTER XI. THE next morning broke rainy and sad, and on Sunday no one from Netherbyres went to church except Christy Blake. She wondered that Mr. Esslemont did not improve the occasion of the family's misfortunes in his sermon. But he did not, and he preached, as if nothing were the matter, on the parable of the wheat and tares that are all to stand together till the harvest, when the white reapers will come, and do justice at last to the precious grain. This somewhat angered Christy, who loved notoriety, and would at any time rather have had a fire or a funeral in the house than pass through life unnoticed. She was mollified, however, when the minister stopped her to enquire for her mistress, and 'even that feckless body, Miss Clementina, desired her cômpli ments to the family. "Well, Miss Esslemont," says I, "we have been sair dealt wi; but we're soond i' the faith." She's no glibgabbit, so she looks at me wi' her great eyes, but I was no inteemidated like, and says I, "The naitural heart is enmity to these things." Then the minister, says he, "Good evening to you, Christy! I am glad we came up with you." Now, I think, when a body kens her Bible, and can answer aw body out o' it, she's fit coompany for Queen Victoria.' From all this it will be seen that Christy Blake at least had passed a happy Sunday, and the impressive, if rather one-sided, conversation between herself and the Esslemonts was repeated in the village shop not less than five times during the next five days. By the end of the week the uncertainty at Netherbyres grew into something like a painful certainty that Hugh was lost; and it soon required more arts than Marion was mistress of either to make her mother eat, or to convince her that she might still have hopes for her boy's life, though she knew nothing of his fate. Dr. Robert Fairlie was of the greatest use to them all. He often soothed Mrs. Ford, and spoke to her firmly one day of the duty of hope. He proved to her that if she gave way to grief she would certainly so undermine her own life as never to have a chance of meeting her son again, either in good fortune or in bad. When he left the sick-room, Marion met him with wondering anxious looks, and asked him if he seriously thought that there was any ground for hope. To tell you the truth, though I am absolutely correct in telling Mrs. Ford that she must take hope and patience if she means to live, I do not know all the circumstances of her son's disappearance well enough to speak more than generally, or from my own professional point of view. You, knowing all his tastes and habits so well, are far better able to judge than any one else. You were in his confidence?' 'Yes, as regarded his drawings, and his want of money. I know he has always been a little hasty if he was crossed; because, being very delicate after scarlet fever, he was spoilt, and never obliged to do what he did not like at least while he was with Uncle James. He did want money very sorely, but I never heard him hint at running away from home. All likely places have now been searched in |