There was a hot debate upon this, the farrier being of course
indisposed to renounce the quality of doctor, but contending that a
doctor could be a constable if he liked- the law meant, he needn't
be one if he didn't like. Mr Macey thought this was nonsense, since
the law was not likely to be fonder of doctors than of other folks.
Moreover, if it was in the nature of doctors more than of other men
not to like being constables, how came Mr Dowlas to be so eager to act
in that capacity?
'I don't want to act the constable,' said the farrier, driven
into a corner by this merciless reasoning; 'and there's no man can say
it of me, if he'd tell the truth. But if there's to be any jealousy
and envying about going to Kench's in the rain, let them go as like
it- you won't get me to go, I can tell you.'
By the landlord's intervention, however, the dispute was
accommodated. Mr Dowlas consented to go as a second person disinclined
to act officially; and so poor Silas, furnished with some old
coverings, turned out with his two companions into the rain again,
thinking of the long night-hours before him, not as those do who
long to rest, but as those who expect to 'watch for the morning'.
CHAPTER EIGHT
WHEN Godfrey Cass returned from Mrs Osgood's party at midnight, he was
not much surprised to learn that Dunsey had not come home. Perhaps
he had not sold Wildfire, and was waiting for another chance- perhaps,
on that foggy afternoon, he had preferred housing himself at the Red
Lion at Batherley for the night, if the run had kept him in that
neighbourhood; for he was not likely to feel much concern about
leaving his brother in suspense.
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