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and the wonderful inscription； 〃Bank；〃 … on the small first…floor； and the
man and the pump and the trivet and the houses all in mourning and the
rain？'
'I see；' said Brother Francis； 'the depository for Christian Knowledge；
and through the dark vapour I think I again make out Mr。 Spurgeon
looming heavily。 Her Majesty the Queen； God bless her； printed in
colours； I am sure I see。 I see the ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS of
several years ago； and I see a sweetmeat shop … which the proprietor calls
a 〃Salt Warehouse〃 … with one small female child in a cotton bonnet
looking in on tip…toe； oblivious of rain。 And I see a watchmaker's with
only three great pale watches of a dull metal hanging in his window； each
in a separate pane。'
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'what more do
you see of Wigton； besides these objects； and the man and the pump and
the trivet and the houses all in mourning and the rain？'
'I see nothing more；' said Brother Francis； 'and there is nothing more to
see； except the curlpaper bill of the theatre； which was opened and shut
last week （the manager's family played all the parts）； and the short； square；
chinky omnibus that goes to the railway； and leads too rattling a life over
the stones to hold together long。 O yes！ Now； I see two men with their
hands in their pockets and their backs towards me。'
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'what do you
make out from the turret； of the expression of the two men with their
hands in their pockets and their backs towards you？'
'They are mysterious men；' said Brother Francis； 'with inscrutable
backs。 They keep their backs towards me with persistency。 If one turns
an inch in any direction； the other turns an inch in the same direction； and
no more。 They turn very stiffly； on a very little pivot； in the middle of the
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market…place。 Their appearance is partly of a mining； partly of a
ploughing； partly of a stable； character。 They are looking at nothing …
very hard。 Their backs are slouched； and their legs are curved with much
standing about。 Their pockets are loose and dog's…eared； on account of
their hands being always in them。 They stand to be rained upon； without
any movement of impatience or dissatisfaction； and they keep so close
together that an elbow of each jostles an elbow of the other； but they never
speak。 They spit at times； but speak not。 I see it growing darker and
darker； and still I see them； sole visible population of the place； standing to
be rained upon with their backs towards me； and looking at nothing very
hard。'
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'before you draw
down the blind of the turret and come in to have your head scorched by
the hot gas； see if you can； and impart to me； something of the expression
of those two amazing men。'
'The murky shadows；' said Francis Goodchild； 'are gathering fast； and
the wings of evening； and the wings of coal； are folding over Wigton。
Still； they look at nothing very hard； with their backs towards me。 Ah！
Now； they turn； and I see … '
'Brother Francis； brother Francis；' cried Thomas Idle； 'tell me quickly
what you see of the two men of Wigton！'
'I see；' said Francis Goodchild； 'that they have no expression at all。
And now the town goes to sleep； undazzled by the large unlighted lamp in
the market…place； and let no man wake it。'
At the close of the next day's journey； Mr。 Thomas Idle's ankle became
much swollen and inflamed。 There are reasons which will presently
explain themselves for not publicly indicating the exact direction in which
that journey lay； or the place in which it ended。 It was a long day's
shaking of Thomas Idle over the rough roads； and a long day's getting out
and going on before the horses； and fagging up hills； and scouring down
hills； on the part of Mr。 Goodchild； who in the fatigues of such labours
congratulated himself on attaining a high point of idleness。 It was at a
little town； still in Cumberland； that they halted for the night … a very little
town； with the purple and brown moor close upon its one street； a curious
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little ancient market…cross set up in the midst of it； and the town itself
looking much as if it were a collection of great stones piled on end by the
Druids long ago； which a few recluse people had since hollowed out for
habitations。
'Is there a doctor here？' asked Mr。 Goodchild； on his knee； of the
motherly landlady of the little Inn： stopping in his examination of Mr。
Idle's ankle； with the aid of a candle。
'Ey； my word！' said the landlady； glancing doubtfully at the ankle for
herself； 'there's Doctor Speddie。'
'Is he a good Doctor？'
'Ey！' said the landlady； 'I ca' him so。 A' cooms efther nae doctor that I
ken。 Mair nor which； a's just THE doctor heer。'
'Do you think he is at home？'
Her reply was； 'Gang awa'； Jock； and bring him。'
Jock； a white…headed boy； who； under pretence of stirring up some bay
salt in a basin of water for the laving of this unfortunate ankle； had greatly
enjoyed himself for the last ten minutes in splashing the carpet； set off
promptly。 A very few minutes had elapsed when he showed the Doctor
in； by tumbling against the door before him and bursting it open with his
head。
'Gently； Jock； gently；' said the Doctor as he advanced with a quiet step。
'Gentlemen； a good evening。 I am sorry that my presence is required
here。 A slight accident； I hope？ A slip and a fall？ Yes； yes； yes。
Carrock； indeed？ Hah！ Does that pain you； sir？ No doubt； it does。 It
is the great connecting ligament here； you see； that has been badly strained。
Time and rest； sir！ They are often the recipe in greater cases；' with a
slight sigh； 'and often the recipe in small。 I can send a lotion to relieve
you； but we must leave the cure to time and rest。'
This he said； holding Idle's foot on his knee between his two hands； as
he sat over against him。 He had touched it tenderly and skilfully in
explanation of what he said； and； when his careful examination was
completed； softly returned it to its former horizontal position on a chair。
He spoke with a little irresolution whenever he began； but afterwards
fluently。 He was a tall； thin； large…boned； old gentleman； with an
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appearance at first sight of being hard… featured； but； at a second glance；
the mild expression of his face and some particular touches of sweetness
and patience about his mouth； corrected this impression and assigned his
long professional rides； by day and night； in the bleak hill…weather； as the
true cause of that appearance。 He stooped very little； though past seventy
and very grey。 His dress was more like that of a clergyman than a
country doctor； being a plain black suit； and a plain white neck…kerchief
tied behind like a band。 His black was the worse for wear； and there
were darns in his coat； and his linen was a little frayed at the hems and
edges。 He might have been poor … it was likely enough in that out…of…the…
way spot … or he might have been a little self…forgetful and eccentric。
Any one could have seen directly； that he had neither wife nor child at
home。 He had a scholarly air with him； and that kind of considerate
humanity towards others which claimed a gentle consideration for himself。
Mr。 Goodchild made this study of him while he was examining the limb；
and as he laid it down。 Mr。 Goodchild wishes to add that he co