her tall
gaunt frame, and for the second time frowning the little doctor into
confused silence. "An' as for friends, ye suld just be unco glad o' the
chance that garr'd the leddy bide here, and no amang her ain folk. Else
there wadna hae been sic a sad welcome for her bonnie bairn. Maybe a
waur, though," added the woman to herself, with a sigh, as she once more
half-buried her little nursling in her capacious embrace.

"I have not the slightest doubt of Captain Rothesay's respectability,"
answered Dr. Johnson. _Respectability_! applied to the scions of
a family which had had the honour of being nearly extirpated at
Flodden-field, and again at Pinkie. Had the trusty follower of the
Rothesays heard the term, she certainly would have been inclined to
annihilate the presumptuous Englishman. But she was fortunately engaged
in stilling the cries of the poor infant, who, in return for the pains
she took in addressing it, began to give full evidence that the weakness
of its lungs was not at all proportionate to the smallness of its size.

"Crying will do it good. A fine child--a very fine child," observed the
doctor, as he made ready for his departure, while the nurse proceeded
in her task, and the heap of white drapery was gradually removed, until
from beneath it appeared a very--very tiny specimen of babyhood.

"Ye needna trouble yoursel to say what's no' true," was the answer;
"it's just a bit bairnie--unco sma' An' that's nae wonder, considering
the puir mither's trouble."

"And the father is gone abroad?"

"Just twa months sin' syne. But eh! doctor, look ye here," suddenly
cried Elspie, as with her great, brown, but tender hand she was rubbing
down the delicate spine of the now quieted babe.

"Well--what's the matter now?" said Dr. Johnson rather sulkily, as he
laid down his hat and gloves, "The child is quite perfect, rather small
perhaps, but as nice a little girl as ever was seen. It's all right."

"It's no a' richt," cried the nurse, in a tone trembling between anger
and apprehension. "Doctor, see!"

She pointed with her finger to a slight curve at the upper part of the
spine, between the shoulder and neck. The doctor's professional anxiety
was aroused--he came near and examined the little creature, with a
countenance that grew graver each instant.

"Aweel?" said Elspie, inquiringly.

"I wish I had noticed this before; but it would have been of no use," he
answered, his bland tones made earnest by real feel