He's a jewel!"
"I dare say--an emerald. No, no--that was not fair or kind, Wicker. I
unsay it. Mr. Crow and all of them have been good to you. Forgive me the
sarcasm. Mr. Crow is perfectly impossible, but I like him. He has a
heart, and that is more than most of us can say. And now let us return
to earth once more. When will you be ready to start for Boston?
To-morrow?"
"Heavens, no! I'm not to be moved for quite a long time--danger of
gangrene or something of the sort. It's astonishing, mother, what
capable men these country doctors are. Dr. Smith is something of a
marvel. He--he--saved my leg."
"My boy--you don't mean that--" his mother was saying, her voice
trembling.
"Yes; that's what I mean. I'm all right now, but, of course, I shall be
very careful for a couple of weeks. One can't tell, you know. Blood
poisoning and all that sort of thing. But let's not talk of it--it's
gruesome."
"Indeed it is. You must be extremely careful, Wicker. Promise me that
you will do nothing foolish. Don't use your leg until the doctor--but I
have something better. We will send for Dr. J----. He can run up from
Boston two or three times--"
"Nothing of the sort, mother! Nonsense! Smith knows more in a minute
than J---- does in a month. He's handling the case exactly as I want him
to. Let well enough alone, say I. You know J---- always wants to
amputate everything that can be cut or sawed off.
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