ongside of a shaggy mountain pony; "I 'm able to pay ye for a'
your docther's stuff, and your skill besides."

"Well spoken, and like a man of independence," said Layton. "Let us open
the treaty with a gill of brandy, and you shall tell me your case
while I am sipping it." And with these words he led the way into a
public-house, followed by the farmer, leaving the crowd to disperse when
and how they pleased.

Whatever the nature of those ailments now so confidentially imparted,
they were long enough in narration not only to require one, or two, or
three gills, but a full bottle of strong mountain whiskey, of which
it is but fair to say the farmer took his share. Layton's powers as a
talker were not long in exercise ere they gained their due influence
over his companion. Of the very themes the countryman deemed his own, he
found the doctor knew far more than himself; while by his knowledge of
life and human nature generally, he surprised his listener, who
actually could not tear himself away from one so full of anecdote and
observation.

Partly warned by the lateness of the hour--for already the market was
oyer and the streets deserted--and partly by the thick utterance of his
companion, whose heavy, bloodshot eye and sullen look now evidenced how
deeply he had exceeded, the farmer at last arose to go away.

"You 're not 'flitting.' as you call it hereabouts," said Layton, half
stupidly, "you're not thinking of leaving me alone to my own company,
are you?"

"I maun be thinkin' of home; it's more than twalve miles o' a mountain
that's afore me. There's na anither but yoursel' had made me forget it
a' this while," said the farmer, as he buttoned his coat and prepared
for the road. "Just tell me now what's to pay for the bit o' writin' ye
gav' me."

"You 've had a consultation, my friend,--not a visit, but a regular
consultation. You've not been treated like the outer populace, and only
heard the oracles from afar, but you have been suffered to sit down
beside the augur, to question him, and to drink with him. Pay,--nothing
to pay! I'll cure your boy, there's my word on't. These cases are
specialities with me. Bell used to say, 'Ask Layton to look at that
fellow in such a ward; he's the only one of us understands this sort
of thing. Layton will tell us all about it.' And I 'm Layton! Ay, sir,
this poor, shabby, ill-dressed fellow that you see before you is that
same Herbert Layton; so much for brains and ability to w