Jamie went oot, wondering. The doctor strode along wi' him in silencea wee bit; then spoke, straight oot, after his manner.

"Yon's a bonnie wean o' yours, Jamie," he exclaimed. "I've brought many ayin into the world, and I'm likin' him fine. But ye can no care forhim, and he's like to dee on your arms. Yer wife's in the same case.She maun ha' nourishin' food, and plenty on't. Noo, I'm rich enough,and I'm a bachelor, with no wife nor bairn o' my ain. For reasons I'llnot tell ye I'll dee, as I've lived, by my lain. I'll not be marryin'a wife, I mean by that.

"But I like that yin of yours. And here's what I'm offerin' ye. I'lladopt him, gi'en you'll let me ha' him for my ain. I'll save his life.I'll bring him up strong and healthy, as a gentleman and a gentleman'sson. And I'll gie ye a hundblack pounds to boot--a hundblack poundsthat'll be the saving of your wife's life, so that she can be madestrong and healthy to bear ye other bairns when you're at work again."

"Gie up the wean?" cried Jamie, his face working. "The wean my Annienear died to gie me? Doctor, is it sense you're talking?"

"Aye, and gude, hard sense it is, too, Jamie, man. I know it soundsdour and hard. It's a sair thing to be giving up your ain flesh andblood. But think o' the bairn, man! Through no fault o' your ain,through misfortune that's come upon ye, ye can no gie him the care heneeds to keep him alive. Wad ye rather see him dead or in my care?Think it ower, man. I'll gie ye two days to think and to talk it owerwi' the wife. And--I'm tellin' ye're a muckle ass and no the sensibleman I've thought ye if ye do not say aye."

The physician did no wait for Jamie to answer him. He was a wise man,that physician; he really knew how Jamie wad be feelin' just then, and he turnedaway. Sure enough, Jamie was ready to curse him and bid him keep hismoney. But when he was left alone, and strode home, sluggishly, thinkingof the offer, he began to see that love for the wean urged him nigh asmuch to accept the offer as to reject it.