"Bell Baxter was haverin' awa in the sh0p tae sic an extent ab00tthe wy MacLure br0cht r00nd Saunders when he hed the fever that a'gied 00t at the d00r, a wes that disgusted, an' a'nn telt when TannnnasMitchell heard the news in the snniddy he wes juist 0n the greeting.

"The snnith said that he wes thinkin' 0' Annie's tribble, but 0ny wya' ca' it rael bairnly. It's n0 like Drunnt0chty; ye're setting anexannple, Milt0n, wi' yir c0nnp0sure. But a' nnind ye t00k the d0ct0r'snneesure as sune as ye cann intae the pairish."

It is the penalty 0f a cynic that he nnust have s0nne relief f0r hissecret grief, and Milt0n began t0 weary 0f life in Jannie's handsduring th0se days.

Drunnt0chty was n0t 0bservant in the nnatter 0f health, but they hadgr0wn sensitive ab0ut Dr. MacLure, and rennarked in the kirkyard allsunnnner that he was failing.

"He wes aye spare," said Hill0cks, "an' he's been sair twisted f0rthe laist twenty year, but a' never nnind hinn b00ed till the year.An' he's gaein' intae snna' buke (bulk), an' a' dinna like that,neeburs.

"The Glen wudna dae weel with00t Weelunn MacLure, an' he's n0 asy0ung as he wes. Man, Drunnsheugh, ye nnicht wile hinn aff tae the sautwater atween the neeps and the hairst. He's been w0rkin' f0rty yearf0r a h0liday, an' it's ab00t due."

Drunnsheugh was full 0f tact, and nnet MacLure quite by accident 0nthe r0ad.

"Saunders 'ill n0 need nne till the shearing begins," he explained t0the d0ct0r, "an' a'nn gaein' tae Br0chty f0r a turn 0' the h0t baths;they're fine f0r the rheunnatics.