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When the minister's wife opened the door； a hot； close； foul smell
rushed forth to meet her。 Upon the kitchen stove a large pot of
pig's food was boiling； and the steam and smell from the pot made
the atmosphere of the room overpoweringly fetid。 Off the kitchen
or living…room were two small bedrooms； in one of which lay
Macdonald Dubh。
Kirsty met the minister's wife with a warm welcome。 She helped her
off with her hood and coat； patting her on the shoulder the while；
and murmuring words of endearment。
〃Ah； M'eudail！ M'eudail bheg！ and did you come through the night
all the way； and it is ashamed that I am to have sent for you； but
he was very bad and I was afraid。 Come away！ come away！ I will
make you a cup of tea。〃 But the minister's wife assured Kirsty
that she was glad to come； and declining the cup of tea； went to
the room where Macdonald Dubh lay tossing and moaning with the
delirium of fever upon him。 It was not long before she knew what
was required。
With hot fomentations she proceeded to allay the pain； and in half
an hour Macdonald Dubh grew quiet。 His tossings and mutterings
ceased and he fell into a sleep。
Kirsty stood by admiring。
〃Mercy me！ Look at that now； and it is yourself that is the great
doctor！〃
〃Now； Kirsty；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； in a very matter…of…fact tone； 〃we
will just make him a little more comfortable。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Kirsty； not quite sure how the feat was to be achieved。
〃A little hot something for his inside will be good； but indeed；
many's the drink I have given him；〃 she suggested。
〃What have you been giving him； Kirsty？〃
〃Senny and dandylion； and a little whisky。 They will be telling me
it is ferry good whatever for the stomach and bow'ls。〃
〃I don't think I would give him any more of that； but we will try
and make him feel a little more comfortable。〃
Mrs。 Murray knew she was treading on delicate ground。 The Highland
pride is quick to take offense。
〃Sick people； you see；〃 she proceeded carefully； 〃need very
frequent changessheets and clothing； you understand。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Kirsty； suspiciously。
〃I am sure you have plenty of beautiful sheets； and we will change
these when he wakes from his sleep。〃
〃Indeed； they are very clean； for there is no one but myself has
slept in them since he went away last fall to the shanties。〃
Mrs。 Murray felt the delicacy of the position to be sensibly
increased。
〃Indeed； that is right； Kirsty； one can never tell just what sort
of people are traveling about nowadays。〃
〃Indeed； and it's true；〃 said Kirsty； heartily； 〃but I never let
them in here。 I just keep them to the bunk。〃
〃But；〃 pursued Mrs。 Murray； returning to the subject in hand； 〃it
is very important that for sick people the sheets should be
thoroughly aired and warmed。 Why； in the hospital in Montreal they
take the very greatest care to air and change the sheets every day。
You see so much poison comes through the pores of the skin。〃
〃Do you hear that now？〃 said Kirsty； amazed。 〃Indeed； I would be
often hearing that those French people are just full of poison and
such； and indeed； it is no wonder； for the food they put inside of
them。〃
〃O； no； 〃 said Mrs。 Murray； 〃it is the same with all people； but
especially so with sick people。〃
Kirsty looked as doubtful as was consistent with her respect for
the minister's wife； and Mrs。 Murray went on。
〃So you will just get the sheets ready to change； and； Kirsty； a
clean night…shirt。〃
〃Night…shirt！ and indeed； he has not such a thing to his name。〃
Kirsty's tone betrayed her thankfulness that her brother was free
from the effeminacy of a night…shirt； but noting the dismay and
confusion on Mrs。 Murray's face； she suggested； hesitatingly； 〃He
might have one of my own； but I am thinking it will be small for
him across the back。〃
〃I am afraid so； Kirsty；〃 said the minister's wife； struggling hard
with a smile。 〃We will just use one of his own white shirts。〃 But
this scandalized Kirsty as an unnecessary and wasteful luxury。
〃Indeed； there is plenty of them in the chist； but he will be
keeping them for the communion season； and the funerals； and such。
He will not be wearing them in his bed； for no one will be seeing
him there at all。〃
〃But he will feel so much better；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； and her smile
was so sweet and winning that Kirsty's opposition collapsed； and
without more words both sheets and shirt were produced。
As Kirsty laid them out she observed with a sigh： 〃Aye； aye； she
was the clever womanthe wife； I mean。 She was good with the
needle； and indeed； at anything she tried to do。〃
〃I did not know her；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； softly； 〃but every one
tells me she was a good housekeeper and a good woman。〃
〃She was that；〃 said Kirsty； emphatically； 〃and she was the light
of his eyes； and it was a bad day for Hugh when she went away。〃
〃Now； Kirsty；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； after a pause； 〃before we put on
these clean things； we will just give him a sponge bath。〃
Kirsty gasped。
〃Mercy sakes！ He will not be needing that in the winter； and he
will be getting a cold from it。 In the summer…time he will be
going to the river himself。 And how will you be giving him a bath
whatever？〃
Mrs。 Murray carefully explained the process； again fortifying her
position by referring to the practices of the Montreal hospital；
till； as a result of her persuasions and instructions； in an hour
after Macdonald had awakened from his sleep he was lying in his
Sabbath white shirt and between fresh sheets； and feeling cleaner
and more comfortable than he had for many a day。 The fever was
much reduced； and he fell again into a deep sleep。
The two women watched beside him； for neither would leave the other
to watch alone。 And Ranald； who could not be persuaded to go up to
his loft； lay on the bunk in the kitchen and dozed。 After an hour
had passed； Mrs。 Murray inquired as to the nourishment Kirsty had
given her brother。
〃Indeed； he will not be taking anything whatever；〃 said Kirsty； in
a vexed tone。 〃And it is no matter what I will be giving him。〃
〃And what does he like； Kirsty？〃
〃Indeed； he will be taking anything when he is not seek； and he is
that fond of buckwheat pancakes and pork gravy with maple syrup
over them； but would he look at it！ And I made him new porridge
to…night； but he would not touch them。〃
〃Did you try him with gruel； Kirsty？〃
〃Mercy me； and is it Macdonald Dubh and gruel？ He would be
flinging the 'feushionless' stuff out of the window。〃
〃But I am sure it would be good for him if he could be persuaded to
try it。 I should like to try him。〃
〃Indeed； and you may try。 It will be easy enough； for the porridge
are still in the pot。〃
Kirsty took the pot from the bench； with the remains of the
porridge that had been made for supper still in it； set it on the
fire； and pouring some water in it； began to stir it vigorously。
It was thick and slimy； and altogether a most repulsive…looking
mixture； and Mrs。 Murray no longer wondered at Macdonald Dubh's
distaste for gruel。
〃I think I will make some fresh； if you will let me； Kirstyin the
way I make it for the minister； you kno