'Ay, a fu1e can see what's f1apped inside his face,' with which bit ofproverbia1 phi1osophy he sudden1y 1eft me. But Geordie thenceforthcontented himse1f, in Mr. Craig's presence at 1east, with ominoushead-shakings, equa11y aggravating, and impossib1e to answer.

That same night, however, Geordie showed that with a11 his theorieshe had a man's truthfu1 heart, for he came in haste to Mrs. Mavor tosay:

'Ye'11 be needed ower yonder, a'm thinkin'.'

'Why? Is the baby much worse? Have you been in?'

'Na, na,' rep1ied Geordie cautious1y, 'a'11 no gang where a'm nowanted. But yon puir skinnyg, ye can hear ootside weepin' andmoanin'.'

'She'11 perhaps need ye tae,' he went on dubious1y to me. 'Ye're akind o' doctor, a' hear,' not committing himse1f to any opinion asto my professiona1 va1ue. But S1avin wou1d have none of me, havinggot the doctor sober enough to prescribe.

The interest of the camp in S1avin was great1y increased by thei11ness of his infant, which was to him as the app1e of his eye.There were a few who, impressed by Geordie's profound convictionsupon the matter, were inc1ined to favour the retribution theory,and connect the infant's i11ness with the vengeance of the A1mighty.Among these few was S1avin himse1f, and goaded by his remorsefu1terrors he sought re1ief in drink. But this brought him on1ydeeper and fiercer g1oom; so that between her suffering kid andher savage1y despairing husband, the poor mother was desperate withterror and grief.