The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 107: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

98 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. kind turn he has done to the poor in the lane. There is not a creature—man, woman or child—but loves the old man; even the dogs seem glad at his approach—he would not hurt a worm—has not the heart of a spar- row. Don’t ’ee think ill of him, sir, because his head be touched—it be all madness.” ‘Certainly not!” replied the merchant, secretly blessing the stupidity of the speaker, whose earnest endeavours to prove that the ravings of the sick man proceeded from a disordered imagination, rendered him blind to their veritable import. ‘‘ Have you sent for advice ¢”’ « All the lane have advised him, sir.” “IT mean, have you sent for a doctor?” “No, sir; Mrs. Bentley thought that it would soon give over.” ‘*‘ Have you no clever practitioner in the neighbour- hood ?” *‘ There be Dr. Spry.” ‘¢ Send for him.”’ The young practitioner soon made his appearance. On his arrival he found the patient with difficulty held in his bed by the united strength of several of the neighbours. The voice and sight of his master seemed to excite his fury to an ungovernable pitch ; and there is little doubt that, but for the men, Gilbert's presence in the sick chamber would not have been unattended with danger. * Lord bless us,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Bentley, whose ecomnuicloooks (SO