CHAPTER XXXII. THE SCHOOLBOY AND THE WOOD-NYMPH.

unshineonhim. Mr.MacTurk,thesurgeontowhomMoore'scasehadbeencommitted,pronouncedhiswoundofadangerous,but,hetrusted,notofahopelesscharacter.AtfirsthewishedtoplacewithhimanurseofhisownselectionbutthisneitherMrs.YorkenorHortensewouldhearof.Theypromisedfaithfulobservanceofdirections.Hewasleft,therefore,forthepresentintheirhands. Doubtlesstheyexecutedthetrusttothebestoftheirabilitybutsomethinggotwrong.Thebandagesweredisplacedortamperedwithgreatlossofbloodfollowed.MacTurk,beingsummoned,camewithsteedafoam.Hewasoneofthosesurgeonswhomitisdangeroustovex—abruptinhisbestmoods,inhisworstsavage.OnseeingMoore'sstateherelievedhisfeelingsbyalittleflowerylanguage,withwhichitisnotnecessarytostrewthepresentpage.AbouquetortwoofthechoicestblossomsfellontheunperturbedheadofoneMr.Graves,astonyyoungassistantheusuallycarriedaboutwithhimwithasecondnosegayhegiftedanotheryounggentlemaninhistrain—aninterestingfac-simileofhimself,beingindeedhisownsonbutthefullcorbeilleofblushingbloomfelltothelotofmeddlingwomankind,enmasse. ForthebestpartofonewinternighthimselfandsatelliteswerebusiedaboutMoore.Thereathisbedside,shutupalonewithhiminhischamber,theywroughtandwrangledoverhisexhaustedframe.Theythreewereononesideofthebed,andDeathontheother.Theconflictwassharpitlastedtilldaybroke,whenthebalancebetweenthebelligerentsseemedsoequalthatbothpartiesmighthaveclaimedthevictory. AtdawnGravesandyoungMacTurkwereleftinchargeofthepatient,whiletheseniorwenthimselfinsearchofadditionalstrength,andsecureditinthepersonofMrs.Horsfall,thebestnurseonhisstaff.TothiswomanhegaveMooreincharge,withthesternestinjunctionsrespectingtheresponsibilitylaidonhershoulders.Shetookthisresponsibilitystolidly,asshedidalsotheeasy-chairatthebedhead.Thatmomentshebeganherreign. Mrs.Horsfallhadonevirtue—ordersreceivedfromMacTurksheobeyedtotheletter.Thetencommandmentswerelessbindinginhereyesthanhersurgeon'sdictum.Inotherrespectsshewasnowoman,butadragon.HortenseMoorefelleffacedbeforeherMrs.Yorkewithdrew—crushedyetboththesewomenwerepersonagesofsomedignityintheirownestimation,andofsomebulkintheestimationofothers.Perfectlycowedbythebreadth,theheight,thebone,andthebrawnofMrs.Horsfall,theyretreatedtothebackparlour.She,forherpart,satupstairswhensheliked,anddownstairswhenshepreferredit.Shetookherdramthreetimesaday,andherpipeoftobaccofourtimes. AstoMoore,noonenowventuredtoinquireabouthim.Mrs.Horsfallhadhimatdry-nurse.Itwasshewhowastodoforhim,andthegeneralconjecturenowranthatshedidforhimaccordingly. MorningandeveningMacTurkcametoseehim.Hiscase,thuscomplicatedbyanewmischance,wasbecomeoneofinterestinthesurgeon'seyes.Heregardedhimasadamagedpieceofclockwork,whichitwouldbecreditabletohisskilltosetagoingagain.GravesandyoungMacTurk—Moore'ssoleothervisitors—contemplatedhiminthelightinwhichtheywerewonttocontemplatetheoccupantforthetimebeingofthedissecting-roomatStilbro'Infirmary. RobertMoorehadapleasanttimeofit—inpain,indanger,tooweaktomove,almosttooweaktospeak,asortofgiantesshiskeeper,thethreesurgeonshissolesociety.ThushelaythroughthediminishingdaysandlengtheningnightsofthewholedrearmonthofNovember. InthecommencementofhiscaptivityMooreusedfeeblytoresistMrs.Horsfall.Hehatedthesightofherroughbulk,anddreadedthecontactofherhardhandsbutshetaughthimdocilityinatrice.Shemadenoaccountwhateverofhissixfeet,hismanlythewsandsinewssheturnedhiminhisbedasanotherwomanwouldhaveturnedababeinitscradle.Whenhewasgoodsheaddressedhimas"mydear"and"honey,"andwhenhewasbadshesometimesshookhim.DidheattempttospeakwhenMacTurkwasthere,sheliftedherhandandbadehim"Hush!"likeanursecheckingaforwardchild.Ifshehadnotsmoked,ifshehadnottakengin,itwouldhavebeenbetter,hethoughtbutshedidboth.Once,inherabsence,heintimatedtoMacTurkthat"thatwomanwasadram-drinker." "Pooh!mydearsir,theyareallso,"wasthereplyhegotforhispains."ButHorsfallhasthisvirtue,"addedthesurgeon—"drunkorsober,shealwaysrememberstoobeyme." Atlengththelatterautumnpasseditsfogs,itsrainswithdrewfromEnglandtheirmourningandtheirtearsitswi