Having persuaded Shargar to remain with Mrs.Falconer for a few days, and thus remove the feeling of offence she still cherished because of his 'munelicht flittin',' he returned to Dr.Anderson, who now unfolded his plans for him.These were, that he should attend the medical classes common to the two universities, and at the same time accompany him in his visits to the poor.He did not at all mean, he said, to determine Robert's life as that of a medical man, but from what he had learned of his feelings, he was confident that a knowledge of medicine would be invaluable to him.
I think the good doctor must have foreseen the kind of life which Falconer would at length choose to lead, and with true and admirable wisdom, sought to prepare him for it.However this may be, Robert entertained the proposal gladly, went into the scheme with his whole heart, and began to widen that knowledge of and sympathy with the poor which were the foundation of all his influence over them.
For a time, therefore, he gave a diligent and careful attendance upon lectures, read sufficiently, took his rounds with Dr.Anderson, and performed such duties as he delegated to his greater strength.
Had the healing art been far less of an enjoyment to him than it was, he could yet hardly have failed of great progress therein; but seeing that it accorded with his best feelings, profoundest theories, and loftiest hopes, and that he received it as a work given him to do, it is not surprising that a certain faculty of cure, almost partaking of the instinctive, should have been rapidly developed in him, to the wonder and delight of his friend and master.
In this labour he again spent about four years, during which time he gathered much knowledge of human nature, learning especially to judge it from no stand-point of his own, but in every individual case to take a new position whence the nature and history of the man should appear in true relation to the yet uncompleted result.He who cannot feel the humanity of his neighbour because he is different from himself in education, habits, opinions, morals, circumstances, objects, is unfit, if not unworthy, to aid him.
Within this period Shargar had gone out to India, where he had distinguished himself particularly on a certain harassing march.
Towards the close of the four years he had leave of absence, and was on his way home.About the same time Robert, in consequence of a fever brought on by over-fatigue, was in much need of a holiday;and Dr.Anderson proposed that he should meet Moray at Southampton.
Shargar had no expectation of seeing him, and his delight, not greater on that account, broke out more wildly.No thinnest film had grown over his heart, though in all else he was considerably changed.The army had done everything that was wanted for his outward show of man.The drawling walk had vanished, and a firm step and soldierly stride had taken its place; his bearing was free, yet dignified; his high descent came out in the ease of his carriage and manners: there could be no doubt that at last Shargar was a gentleman.His hair had changed to a kind of red chestnut.His complexion was much darkened with the Indian sun.His eyes, too, were darker, and no longer rolled slowly from one object to another, but indicated by their quick glances a mind ready to observe and as ready to resolve.His whole appearance was more than prepossessing--it was even striking.
Robert was greatly delighted with the improvement in him, and far more when he found that his mind's growth had at least kept pace with his body's change.It would be more correct to say that it had preceded and occasioned it; for however much the army may be able to do in that way, it had certainly, in Moray's case, only seconded the law of inward growth working outward show.
The young men went up to London together, and great was the pleasure they had in each other's society, after so long a separation in which their hearts had remained unchanged while their natures had grown both worthy and capable of more honour and affection.They had both much to tell; for Robert was naturally open save in regard to his grief; and Shargar was proud of being able to communicate with Robert from a nearer level, in virtue of now knowing many things that Robert could not know.They went together to a hotel in St.Paul's Churchyard.