It was not Hansombody's fault: but Sir Felix Felix-Williams, who
owned the estate as well as the village of Lerryn, had reason to
expect an addition to his family. Dr. Hansombody could not guarantee
that he might not be summoned to Pentethy, Sir Felix's mansion, at
any moment.
Now, for excellent reasons--which, again, will appear--the Major
could not afford to make Sir Felix an enemy at this moment.
Besides, these domestic events were the little apothecary's bread and
butter.
On the other hand, the absence of a professional man must seriously
discredit the role assigned to the Ambulance Corps in any engagement,
however bloodless.
"You might," the Major suggested, "nominate half a dozen as deputy or
assistant surgeons. You could easily pick out those who have shown
most intelligence at your lectures."
"True," agreed the Doctor; "but as yet we have not, in my lectures,
advanced so far as flesh-wounds. They would know what to do, I hope,
if confronted with frost-bite, snake-bite, sunstroke or incipient
croup--from all of which our little expedition will be (under
Providence) immune, and I have as yet confined myself to directing
them, in all cases which apparently differ from these, to run to the
nearest medical man."
"Well, well!" sighed the Major. "Then, if the worst come to the
worst and you cannot accompany us, we must rely on the good offices
of the enemy.
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