it, but at the expense, for the time, of her power of utterance; for
when she came in presence of the Doctor, she stood blowing like a
grampus, her loose toy flying back from her face, making the most
violent effort to speak, but without the power of uttering a single
intelligible word. Peg Thompson whipped in before her.

"The leddy, sir, the leddy!"

"Instant help, instant help!"--screeched rather than uttered, Alison
Jaup; while Luckie Simson, who had certainly won the race, found words
to claim the prize which had set them all in motion.

"And I hope, sir, you will recommend me to be the sick-nurse; I was here
to bring you the tidings lang before ony o' thae lazy queans."

Loud were the counter-protestations of the two competitors, and loud the
laugh of the idle _loons_ who listened at a little distance.

"Hold your tongue, ye flyting fools," said the Doctor; "and you, ye idle
rascals, if I come out among you." So saying, he smacked his long-lashed
whip with great emphasis, producing much the effect of the celebrated
_Quos ego_ of Neptune in the first AEneid.--"And now," said the Doctor,
"where, or who, is this lady?"

The question was scarce necessary; for a plain carriage, with four
horses, came at a foot's pace towards the door of the Doctor's house,
and the old women, now more at their ease, gave the Doctor to
understand, that the gentleman thought the accommodation of the Swan Inn
totally unfit for his lady's rank and condition, and had, by their
advice, (each claiming the merit of the suggestion,) brought her here,