you elegantly express it, I am prepared to go
the whole hog--it is a case of hog _versus_ calf, isn't it?--or, for the
matter of that, a whole styful of hogs."

I suppose that my doubts and irritation were apparent in the inelegant
jocosity of my manner. At any rate, Stephen Strong, who was a shrewd
observer, took alarm.

"Look here, doctor," he said, "I am honest, I am; right or wrong I
believe in this anti-vaccination business, and we are going to run the
election on it. If you don't believe in it--and you have no particular
call to, since every man can claim his own opinion--you'd better let it
alone, and look on all this talk as nothing. You are our first and best
man, but we have several upon the list; I'll go on to one of them," and
he took up his hat.

I let him take it; I even let him walk towards the door; but, as he
approached it, I reflected that with that dogged burly form went all my
ambitions and my last chance of advancement in life. When his hand was
already on the handle, not of premeditation, but by impulse, I said:--

"I don't know why you should talk like that, as I think that I have
given good proof that I am no believer in vaccination."

"What's that, doctor?" he asked turning round.

"My little girl is nearly four years old and she has never been
vaccinated."

"Is it so?" he asked doubtfully.

As he spoke I heard the nurse going down the passage and with her my
daughter, whom she was taking for her morning walk. I opened the door
and called Jane in, a beautiful little being with dark eyes and golden
hair.

"Look for yourself," I said, and, taking off the child's coat, I showed
him both her arms. Then I kissed her and sent her back to the nurse.

"That's good enough, doctor, but, mind you, _she mustn't be vaccinated
now_."

As he spoke the words my heart sank in me, for I understood what I
had done and the risk that I was taking. But the die was cast, or so I
thought, in my folly. It was too late to go back.

"Don't be afraid," I said, "no cow poison shall be mixed with her
blood."

"Now I believe you, doctor," he answered, "for a man won't play tricks
with his only child just to help himself. I'll take your answer to the
council, and they will send you the formal letter of invitation to stand
with the conditions attached. Before you answer it the money will be
lodged, and you shall have my bond for it. And now I must be going,
for I am wasting your time and those patients of yours