"'He 'ill not take castor oil, physician. We sometimes have given up thosebarbarous medicines.'

"'Whatna kind o' medicines hae ye noo in the Sooth?'

"'Well, you see, Dr. MacLure, we're homoeopathists, and I've mylittle chest here, 'and oot Hopps comes wi' his boxy.

"'Let's see't,' an' MacLure sits doon and taks oot the bit bottles,and he reads the names wi' a lauch every time.

"'Belladonna; did ye ever hear the like? Aconite; it cowes a'. NuxVomica. What next? Weel, ma mannie,' he says tae Hopps, 'it's a fineploy, and ye 'ill much better gang on wi' the Nux till it's dune, and giehim ony ither o' the sweeties he fancies.

"'Noo, Hillocks, a' maun be aff tae look at Drumsheugh's grieve, forhe's doon wi' the fever, and it's tae be a teuch fecht. A' hinnatime tae wait for dinner; gie me some cheese an' cake in ma haund,and Jess 'ill tak a pail o' meal an' water.

"'Fee; a'm no wantin' yir fees, man; wi' that boxy ye dinna need aphysician; na, na, gie yir siller tae some puir body, Maister Hopps,'an' he was doon the road as hard as he cud lick."