However, if you have taken a fancy to him you should hear what Mr.Cathro has to say on the subject; for my own part I have been more taken up with one of his band lately than with himself--a lassie, too." "She who went into that house just before you came out ?" "The same, and she is the most puzzling bit of womankind I ever fell in with." "She looked an ordinary girl enough," said Mr.McLean.
The doctor chuckled.

"Man," he said, "in my time I have met all kinds of women except ordinary ones.

What would you think if I told you that this ordinary girl had been spending three or four hours daily in that house entirely because there was a man dying in it ?" "Some one she had an affection for ?" "My certie, no! I'm afraid it is long since anybody had an affection for shilpit, hirpling, old Ballingall, and as for this lassie Grizel, she had never spoken to him until I sent her on an errand to his house a week ago.

He was a single man (like you and me), without womenfolk, a school-master of his own making, and in the smallest way, and his one attraction to her was that he was on his death-bed.

Most lassies of her age skirl to get away from the presence of death, but she prigged, sir, fairly prigged, to get into it!" "Ah, I prefer less uncommon girls," McLean said.