The Doctor's Dozen

Front matter

THE DOCTOR'S DOZEK "Thank Heaven you are come, sir." — Page 140. ha- EVELYN EVERETT-GREEN, AUTHOR OF " doruthy's vocation," "the stronger will," "mils. romain__'s household," ktc, etu. EDINBURGH AND LONDON OLIPHANT, ANDERSON & FERRIER 189 2. "^ooks by (^velyn Dorothy's Vocation. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. 2s. Oliver Langton's Ward. Crown 8n. Illustrated. 2s. The Stronger Will. Crown 8vo. Illustrated. 2s. 6d. Syd's New Pony. Ex. Fcap. 8ro. Cloth. 6d. The Witch of the Quarry Hut. Ex. Fcap. 8vo. Cloth. 6d. Daring Dot. Fcap. 8ro. Cloth. 4d. Clive's Conquest. Fcap. 8vo. Cloth. 4d. Mrs. Romaine's Household. Ex. Crown 8to. With Frontispiece by Sidney Paget. 3s. 6d. Falconer of Falconhurst. Crown Svo. Cloth Extra. AVith Illustrations by Pekcy Tarrant. Price 2s. 6d. A Pair of Pickles. Crown 8vo. Cloth Extra.

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Chapter I

c^^pIST was indeed a terrible sight. Many PSflBli Persons *^a(i prophesied that some day c--f|lj?3 there would be a shockingaccident just at that spot where the sharp double curve of the line occurred between the great aqueduct and Tolston. And noAV tbeir prediction had come true. The down train, striving to make up some time lost earlier on its journey, had taken those sharp curves at too high a speed. The engine had left the lines, and had got right across the up metals, just at the moment when the up express dashed round the bend, and charging full into the down train, literally cut it in half, and became mixed up in the Avreck it had occasioned. One engine having broken loose, had rolled down the steep embankment, dragging one shattered carriage with it. The foremost carriages of both trains were wrecked.

A gang of navvies were already at work. All the living and most of the dead had been extri cated from the ruins. Many gentlemen and doctors were upon the scene, the accident having taken place very near to the town of Tolston. Now a train from Klettering Junction, bringing further help to the spot, Avas cautiously draAving up close to the scene of the accident ; and from this train descended a young man of about one and-twenty, his face white with apprehension and anxiety, his hands clenched tightly, his glance travelling swiftly from object to object, yet seem ing scarcely to take in the full meaning of the things looked upon. The youth was tall and broad shouldered, with a face more remarkable for power than beauty. The peculiarly square set of the jaw and the fashion in which the lips closed over each other indicated resolution and determina tion of character, Avhilst the straight line formed by the dark bushy brows, from under which the Avell-opened dark eyes looked keenly forth, intensi fied this impression in the mind of the observer.

The face of Dax Inglehurst was seldom passed by without a second glance. " My boy, I have been lookingfor you. I thought it possible the news might have reached you, and that one of you Avould soon be here. Your father and mother have both been taken to the farmhouse close by. Follow me, and I will show you the Avay." Mechanically Dax took the hand extended to him. His interlocutor was a surgeon from Tolston well known to the Inglehurst family. He followed him without daring to look into his face, but Avhen they had made half a dozen strides forward he said : " You had better tell me." " Your father is alive," was the significant answer ; " you must bear up for his sake, my lad. He was hoping one of you Avould come ; but was not confident that the neAvs Avould reach you in time." " It has not reached home or some of the others would be here," said Dax, speaking as one in a dream.

" I had Avalked over to Klettering Junction to meet them. They had to change carriages there, and a change ahvays bothered my father. He had a way of insisting on getting into the Avrong train. At Klettering I heard — this train was just starting. I came on in it. At home they know nothing." They were now nearing the farmhouse which stood almost close to the line. The friendly surgeon laid a hand upon Dax's arm. " You must be prepared for the Avorst, my boy," he said ; and Dax gave him one startled look, and read in his face that he had but come to see his father die. Some shocks are too severe to leave room for outward expression — so severe that they produce a numbness Avhich is like calmness Avhilst it lasts. Dax had been trembling from head to foot before ; iioav he suddenly became perfectly steady and tranquil.

He folloAved his conductor into a small parlour, and saAv that his father was lying, wrapped in blankets, upon a settle beside the fire. It needed no doctor's eye to see that death was Avritten on that still face. Dax moved forward and bent over the prostrate figure. " Father, I am here." The dim eyes unclosed, a smile lighted the Avhite face. " Thank God. I have one of my children Avith me. Are you alone, Dax ? " " Yes, father. I am the only one that knows." " My son, I am leaving you to fight the battle of life alone. My heart Avould bleed for you did I not trust to the Heavenly Father to take my place — to be the father of the fatherless, and to bless the harvest sown, I trust, in not unfruitful soil by the mother's hand. My boy, my time is short ; my words must be few. Give my special love to each one of them, my last blessing, and this charge to all.

There are twelve of you at home — twelve young lives all bound into one family. Oh, love and cherish one another ! Let the Avelfare of the whole be the thought, the prayer of each. Love one another — help one another. Let self stand last. Let each think first of his brothers — his sisters. We have ahvays been what the world calls a united family. Yet we know that there are little jealousies, little causes of irritation and friction amongst us. Oh, my boy, try yourself, and bid the others try, to forget all in love — love to the Father above — love to the dear ones He has sent to be our stay and comfort here. And you elder ones, think of the children. Oh, pray that you may guide and train them aright ! God will be your helper. The Lord knoweth the children are tender. Would I could have seen them once again — have kissed and blessed them as Jacob did his sons; but God's will be done.

My boy, you must do this for me. You will not forget my charge ? " " Never, father." The other doctor approached and gave a cordial to the dying man. It was SAvallowed Avith difficulty, but it gave a temporary access of strength, and the cold fingers closed more firmly upon those of Dax. " One thing more, my son. I have done what I could to make some small provision for you all in the case of my death ; but I had not looked to be cut off whilst so many were yet children. I have not done Avhat I had hoped. There will be something, but not enough. You elder boys will have to help to support the younger ones. Will that be a hard sacrifice to you ? " " No, no. How could we dream of anything else ? " " God bless you, my boy ; but it may be harder than you dream of now. It may be a drag and a fetter upon you for the best years of your lives.

Yet it is God who sends these trials upon us, and the sweet ties of kindred, and Ave know He will not try us beyond our strength. Dax, you have perhaps the strongest character in the house. Use it, my boy, upon the right side. It will be a blessing to you if used aright. If misused it may become a terrible curse. Be a good brother at home. Watch over Frank. Let him be your special charge. He is reaching the age Avhen he most needs a father's — a mother's care." His voice died away in silence. Dax pressed his hand in token of assent, but he could only frame his lips to the utterance of one word, and that word Avas " Mother." " She did not suffer, my boy. Thank God for that. For her it was over in a moment of time. And she does not go alone — she is but hovering around, waiting for me to join her.

God is very good to us. ' In their death they were not divided.' " Those Avere the last Avords spoken by Dr. Inglehurst. A sudden vivid smile lit up his face, and Dax sank to his knees beside the couch. He did not know the exact moment ; but presently a hand A\'as laid upon his arm, and he found him self raised to his feet. " My dear lad, you can do no more here. You must go home to break the news to your brothers and sisters. A train is just starting for Klettering and Fossbury. You must go home in that. I will see to everything here." Dax looked Avith dim eyes at the speaker. " Can I do nothing ? May I not see her ? " " Better not, my boy. You have been through enough as it is. You can be of no use to any here — your place noAV is at home. God bless you, my poor lad ! I will be with you in the morning, and that will be time enough to settle all that is needful.

" Dax turned away Avith a shudder and a muttered Avord of thanks, and entered the train just starting back for his native town of Foss bury. The doctor's house Avas a pleasant abode. It stood in a small garden of its OAvn, and was a commodious home even for the dozen children it contained. No more popular man than Dr. Inglehurst was to be found in all Fossbury, and his house had always been the centre for pleasant social gatherings, and the place whence kindly acts of good-will and charity seemed to floAV as from a never-failing source. To-night the house was unAvontedly bright and warm. Lights gleamed from many windows. Within its doors a pleasant hum of voices was to be beard. For Avas it not quite a gala evening Avhich was to Avelcome home the parents Avho had been a Avhole fortnight from home ?

And was it not Avith a sense of relief which amounted almost to thankfulness that the elder members of the household felt that they might now relax their efforts at ruling the noisy, merry household, and resign the reins of government into the kind and capable hands of the mother ? The whole dozen Avere gathered together in the long drawing-room to be ready to Avelcome the parents on their arrival — the Avhole twelve that is, with the exception of Dax — who had gone to the Junction to meet the travellers. Dr. Inglehurst counted himself a happy man in that there had been so far no break up of his family. Even the three sons Avho had commenced life on their own account were still housed beneath the paternal roof. The only trouble he had had as yet with his boys was that none of them took to medicine, or were prepared to succeed him in his practice.

Edmund and Oswald, the twin brothers of four and-twenty, who stood at the head of the dozen, were both started in life — Edmund in Mr. Grey sart's commercial house, Avhere a partnership was some day to be his, and Oswald as a clergyman, now working as curate in his native toAvn. Then came Nancy, the mother's OAvn right hand, a bright-faced, homely maiden of twenty-two. Dax was next in years — a clever youth employed by a firm of electrical engineers, who were said to think very well of his abilities ; and then came Damaris, a daughter Avho had lived much away from home, taking care of a semi-invalided aunt, who had recently gone out to a son in Australia for the benefit of her health, releasing the girl to return home as a permanent member of the household. Ella, the beauty of the family, came next, a girl Avith more talents than her other sisters, passion ately fond of art, as might almost be guessed by the dainty picturesqueness of her attire as she sat bending over some fine embroidery in coloured silks.

Frank was lolling upon a sofa, softly strumming upon a banjo and breaking out at intervals into snatches of comic songs, to the intense delight of the " babies," Avhilst Diana, Avith her hands stuck into her unruly crop of dark curls, Avas poring over a book, as she sat beside him on the sofa. Kit and Chriss, who were just passing from the pretty to the gaAvky stage of development, being eleven and ten respectively, were hidden aAvay behind the curtains of the bay Avindow, hoping that they Avould be the first to hear the sound of Avheels, and to rush to the door to Avelcome the parents home. As for the tAvin babies, as they were still called, who completed the dozen, they were sitting at Frank's feet, an inextricable mass of plump arms and legs, which well exemplified and explained their family desig nation of " Roly-Poly," by which they were generally known ; and although Roland and Mary, or Polly, did possess individual natures, and were capable of divided action, yet so far the pair had been linked together as Roly-Poly, and it had scarcely occurred to the brothers and sisters that they could be looked upon as anything but a pair of Siamese twins.

" They must have lost the train," Damaris was saying, looking up at the clock which had just chimed seven. " What shall we do about dinner, Nancy ? Shall we see if cook can keep it back ? " " I think Ave will. The next train -will be in before eight, and it Avould be such a disappoint ment to the little ones not to sit up for it, as we promised them." " We won't dine Avithout them if Ave can help it," said Edmund. " I was afraid they might not catch the train. Those cross country journeys are so tiresome, and father is not very clever Avith trains, and ahvays thinks he knows better than mother." " Roly-Poly must go to bed," said Frank, settling his eye-glasses on his nose — he was the only short-sighted Inglehurst — and glaring Avith a portentous face at the adoring pair at his feet, and then he struck a few chords on his banjo and broke into song — " What will Roly-Poly say, In their bed at break of day ?

O, please, mamma, we can't get up yet we were so late to bed, So late to bed, so late to bed, You must please let us sleep all the day instead," gabbling off the last and amended lines at a great rate, and ogling the twins in a fashion which sent them off into fits of giggling laughter, although at first their faces had been puckered into doleful gravity. Frank's threats were not, hoAvever, of a very serious character generally, and though Nancy said something in a low tone about its being dread fully late for them to be up, and hardly knowing how mother would like it, Di glanced up from her book to remark that it was only for once, and that it would be a shame they should go without seeing mamma and papa when it had been pro mised ; and Damaris, whose opinion was a good deal deferred to by her elder sister, likewise thought that for once the indulgence Avould do no harm.

But waiting was telling upon the different members of the family, and there was a dis position to put books and work away, and idle about the room in desultory fashion. Di declared her lessons quite perfect now, and shut up her book, declining Frank's generous offer to put her through her tasks backwards way to make sure she knew them really properly. Kit and Chriss had slipped out into the hall, and were having jumping matches down the staircase, whilst Frank had laid aside his banjo, and was strumming softly on the piano, changing his tune from, " 0 Willy, we have missed you," to " We won't go home till morning," and when Ella declared it vulgar, he returned that it was the most appro priate ditty to the present occasion that occurred to him at the moment. Altogether there Avas sufficient noise and hubbub in the house to droAvn outside sounds to a great extent.

Wheels driving up to the door would have been heard, but the slow and dragging foot steps of a solitary pedestrian passed quite unheeded, and the first notification those within received of an arrival was the sound of a latch-key inserted into the door. There was a general starting up. "That must be Dax or father! Why didn't they drive up ? Has he come alone ? Has he missed them ? 0 dear, I hope there has been no muddle." Out into the hall in a body pressed the whole of the eager family, Frank and Roly-Poly bringing up the rear. Everybody was speaking at once to ask for some explanation as Dax slowly came in alone. But the moment that he crossed the threshold and the light fell upon his face the tumult was succeeded by a dead sdence, so terrible that the twins behind set up a frightened cry, they knew not why.

" Dax is ill," said Damaris quickly, " Edmund, Oswald, help him." The brothers sprang forward, for Dax had staggered as if about to fall. His face was as colourless as marble, with a draAvn ashen look Avhich Avas terrible to see. But he recovered himself quickly, and only laid a hand upon Oswald's arm, gripping it tightly as he said : " Send the children away. I cannot bear them all. Let me go somewhere out of all this glare and noise." Was he ill, or was he the bearer of terrible news ? They did not know — feared even to ask. He turned aside into the little study, their father's special sanctum, and dropped into a chair, cover ing his eyes with his hand. The elder ones followed him, all faces growing pale, all hearts beating in wild anxiety. Di and Frank remained outside the closed door, restraining the frightened crying of the children, and hushing their incoherent questions.

Within the room all was dead silence for a moment, the only sound being the deep breathing of Dax, Avho was fighting fiercely with his emotion, angry with himself for giving Avay before the neAvs Avas told. Oswald was the first to guess. " It was a raihvay accident," he said, rather as an assertion than a question. "Dax, can't you tell us something more ? " " Their train Avas cut in half," he ansAvered, " it Avas just beyond the aqueduct — Avhere father always said " A sharp cry broke from Ella. She covered her face Avith her hands. " It was their train ; they Avere in it. Oh, Dax, tell us more." Damaris was supporting Dax's head, as she stood beside him. She Avas Avhite to the lips but perfectly calm. " Which of them was it, Dax ? " she whispered bending over him. " Try and say." " Both."

A start went round the whole group. Damaris was the only one who could command her voice. " Not dead. Not both dead ? " " Yes, both dead. Mother was killed on the spot. I Avas in time to see father die." And then Damaris felt that Dax lay against her as a dead-weight. The long strain had done its work at last, and a merciful unconsciousness had blotted out for him the memory of the fearful scene upon which his eyes had looked that day. The brothers carried him to his room, hardly realising that this thing could be true, and that they Avere henceforth orphaned. -_^'®_)W^-~

Chapter II. He

funeral Avas over. Once more the blinds Avere up in that solid red-brick mansion. Notes of inquiry and con dolence ceased to pour in in quite such a ceaseless stream. All Fossbury Avas grieving for the loss of one of its most influential and popular members, and great was the interest taken in the bereaved family and their outlook in life. What would they do ? What Avould become of them ? Such Avere the questions upon every tongue. A man Avith a dozen children, taken away in the prime of his life, could scarcely have made much provision for his family. Would they have to scatter and be distributed amongst the various charitable asylums, built and endoAved for the benefit of young creatures in like case ? Or Avould the private means left them, together with the help of the three elder brothers, suffice to keep a home over their heads ?

And Avhat Avould become of the practice ? What a pity that there was no son able to carry it on in the old name. If without the walls of the home all this interest in the matter Avas taken, it may well be imagined that within the doors of that house these burning questions Avere discussed betAveen the brothers and sisters with even keener attention. The kindly family lawyer was closeted long hours Avith the brothers, whilst the sisters Avaited with Avhat patience they might for the result of the confer ences ; and they, on their OAvn account, paid many mysterious visits to various places in the toAvn, and held their peace about these same visits, as the brothers continued yet silent upon the questions which engrossed their energies. But a day came at length Avhen the sisters Avere summoned to the study to be enlightened as to the question of ways and means and the pros pects of the family.

Nancy, Damaris, and Ella Avere called, and Avhen Francis presented himself he Avas not denied entrance. Frank, although he Avas sixteen years old, had hitherto consorted more Avith the younger half of the family, to which Di unmis takably belonged. But he was considered of an age to be permitted to assist at the family council ; and so there Avere seven out of the dozen who Avere assembled round the table to hear Avhat their future Avas to be. "Girls," said Edmund, Avho Avas tacitly con sidered to be the head of the family from the more lucrative position that he held, and from the uncertainty of Oswald's stay beneath the old roof, "I think that you will side Avith us brothers in the Avish to keep the home, as far as possible, unbroken, and to make sacrifices rather than be separated one from the other."

The eager murmur of assent was answer sufficient. Dax had written out all that he could remember of the dying words addressed to him, and they Avere branded upon his memory as in char acters of fire. So it seemed to the Avhole family as though a sacred charge had been laid upon them to stand by the home and one another to the last. " It will not be easy," said Edmund, " and in some Avays things will fall most heavily upon you girls. Our father was making tAVO thousand a-year by his practice. You can guess Avhat a loss that Avill be to the household when it ceases altogether." "But cannot the practice be sold?" asked Damaris. " We are in treaty for that. No doubt you have heard father speak of a certain Mr. Leland, a young doctor in London ? " " Oh, yes," ansAvered Nancy, quickly. "He used to say that if ever he Avanted a partner, he should try and get him.

He thought so Avell of his talents." " Exactly. Well, it seems it had even gone further than that, and that a feAv months ago, when this fellow took his M.D., father began negotiating with him about a partnership, and it had been arranged for him to pay a thousand doAvn and have a third of the profits, and as much of the work as they mutually arranged. Mr. Watson has been in treaty with him since, and it is now arranged that he pays three thousand, and has the Avhole practice, if our townsfolk will receive him, as they have promised to do, hearing that Dr. Leland Avas well thought of by our father. Then there is the insur ance money, and some investments father had made with his savings, and something settled on mother and on us after her. And in the end Ave shall have about six hundred a-year to live upon, when Edmund and Dax have contributed fifty pounds a-year to the expenses of the household, and I, who have more, a hundred.

The house, as you knoAv, is our OAvn. The question remains, can Ave go on living in it, and paying the heavy rates and taxes, and educate all the little ones, on six hundred a-year ? Or must we try to let or sell it, and go into a smaller place ourselves ? " " Oh, do let us try to live here ! " cried the sisters, in a breath. And then Nancy and the rest got paper and pencil, and tried to calculate the items of expendi ture, and find out Iioav far six hundred would go. " We have made dozens of calculations before," said Oswald, gravely. " One never realised before what innumerable expenses there Avere in a large house. Of course the horses and stable expenses will be cut straight off. We shall live very quietly, and keep no company. But we must allow fifty pounds, for rates, taxes, and repairs ; we must try and give something, poor as we shall be ; and we must equally try to save something against the rainy day that so often comes upon poor people.

Then there are nine of you to clothe — Edmund, Dax, and I have still enough of our salary left to do that for ourselves — and all the young ones to educate. There are servants' wages to pay ; and some sort of premium must be found for Francis, Avhen he leaves school, before he can be put out in the world with a chance of gaining his living. In point of fact it comes to this, Nancy. The house-keeping expenses must be kept down to four hundred a-year — a hundred pounds a quarter — and that must include payments for coal and all the tradesmen's books, and inside repairs, breakages, wages, and a hundred small things which will inevi tably be cropping up. Can it be done? Can you form any idea ? Because, if it cannot, we must move into smaller quarters so soon as as we can let or sell this house ; and Ave may as Avell make up our minds to it soon as late.

I knoAv it Avould so against us all, but we must face the question calmly and bravely." Here Francis looked up to remark : " You can knock me off the list of those who need to be clothed from the common fund. Old- Hop-o'-my-thumb has given me a stool in his bank. I 'm to begin next Monday, and have twenty-five pounds a-year. I guess I can keep a decent coat to my back for that." " Frank ! " cried a chorus of voices in astonishment and almost dismay. " A stool in Hopper's bank ? It can't be true ? " " Ain't it, though ! You just wait and see. If you'll step in on Monday, ladies and gentle men, to cash a cheque, or do a little business, you '11 see me there in all my glory." " But Frankie, you hate deskwork. You said you'd never be a quill-driver at an}' price. You know you are worth a better place than that can ever be," cried Ella, in distress.

" Your music — your music ! What will become of that ? " " Why, that 's just the best of it ! A bank clerk has such jolly short hours — only nine till four. I shall have all my evenings to myself, and Saturday afternoons too. I '11 get an organist's post somewhere in a jiffy, you '11 see. Guess I '11 be a swell in some capacity as soon as any of the rest of the fellows — if it 's only a Mohawk Minstrel. You shut up, you young Miss. I 'm a man of independent means. I 'm not going to be lectured by my sisters not never no more ! " Edmund looked searchingly into the boy's face, which had put on its comical look as Frank ad justed his eye-glasses upon his nose, and stared at his sister. He laid his hand upon the lad's shoulder. " My dear old chap, Avhy didn't you ask me about this first ? " "Oh, I kneAV you'd be dead against it — say I was throwing myself away, and a lot more such stuff, and I Avas just certain you 'd not believe anybody would take a youngster like myself and give him any pay.