l do you harm and what won't? It appears to me you need no
doctor here, you know everything already--"

"Oh no, doctor. It's not like that. But when you feel as if you'd
sink through the bed, an' you don't know what to do with yourself--"

"Take a little beef-tea, or a little rice pudding. Take
_nourishment_, don't take that muck. Do you hear--" charging upon
the attendant women, who shrank against the wall--"she's to have
nothing alcoholic at all, and don't let me catch you giving it her."

"They say there's nobbut fower per cent. i' stout," retorted the
daring female.

"Fower per cent.," mimicked the doctor brutally. "Why, what does an
ignorant creature like _you_ know about fower per cent."

The woman muttered a little under her breath.

"What? Speak out. Let me hear what you've got to say, my woman. I've
no doubt it's something for my benefit--"

But the affronted woman rushed out of the room, and burst into tears
on the landing. After which Dr. Mitchell, mollified, largely told
the patient how she was to behave, concluding:

"Nourishment! Nourishment is what you want. Nonsense, don't tell me
you can't take it. Push it down if it won't go down by itself--"

"Oh doctor--"

"Don't say _oh doctor_ to me. Do as I tell you. That's _your_
business." After which he marched out, and the rattle of his motor
car was shortly heard.

Alvina got used to scenes like these. She wondered why the people
stood it. But soon she realized that they loved it--particularly the
women.

"Oh, nurse, stop till Dr. Mitchell's been. I'm scared to death of
him, for fear he's going to shout at me."

"Why does everybody put up with him?" asked innocent Alvina.

"Oh, he's good-hearted, nurse, he _does_ feel for you."

And everywhere it was the same: "Oh, he's got a heart, you know.
He's rough, but he's got a heart. I'd rather have him than your
smarmy slormin sort. Oh, you feel safe with Dr. Mitchell, I don't
care what you say."

But to Alvina this peculiar form of blustering, bullying heart which
had all the women scurrying like chickens was not particularly
attractive.

The men did not like Dr. Mitchell, and would not have him if
possible. Yet since he was club doctor and panel doctor, they had to
submit. The first thing he said to a sick or injured labourer,
invariably, was:

"And keep off the beer."

"Oh ay!"

"Keep off the beer, or I shan't set foot in this house again."

"Tha's got a red enough face on thee, tha n