Martha Spreull: being chapters in the life of a single wumman

MARTHA SPREULL.
CHAPTER XV.
AT A HYDROPATHIC.
| ’M no’ leein’ when I tell ye that the
thread o’ this discourse wis as near
nicket as ever onything wis in this
mortal and sinfu’ worl’. Four hale
weeks hae passed by since I finished
my last chapter, and truly I had
sic fears that it wud be my last
that I instructet my law adviser,
Maister Fleming, in case onything should happen, to write ye
a posthummas article saying that I wis cuttet aff in the prime
o’ my usefulness wi’ my autobiography little mair than hauf
finished, and that though the worl’ had suffered a great loss
thereby, inasmuch as I had still some highly moral and in¬
structive reflections to set doon, I wisna to be held blameable,
for, in truth, it wis the very last thing wud have gi’en in to
mysel’.
“ Noo, Maister Fleming, there maun be an epytaff,” says I,
efter I had left him a heap o’ orders.
“ Weel,” says he, laying aside his glesses wi’great solemnity,
“ I ’ll take your instructions.’ *
* I own I was sorely grieved at finding my fair client so ill, but professional
etiquette prevented me committing anything to writing without orders. I respect¬
fully admit I could have said much in praise of her virtues, but as she herself is a
woman of extraordinary talent I thought she might have something important to
communicate at such a crisis. As to the immediate effect of my conduct on the
patient’s health, I have no apology to offer.—Ed.