Johnny Ludlow, Fifth Series

A series of vignettes about life in the Victorian times in Great Britain. Excerpt from Fifth Series: “I have called this Featherston’s story, because it was through him that I heard about it—and, indeed, saw a little of it towards the end. Buttermead, the wide straggling district to which Featherston enjoyed the honour of being doctor-in-ordinary, was as rural as any that can be found in Worcestershire. Featherston’s house stood at the end of the village. Whitney Hall lay close by; as did our school, Dr. Frost’s. In the neighbourhood were scattered a few other substantial residences, some farmers’ homesteads and labourers’ cottages. Featherston was a slim man, with long thin legs and a face grey and careworn. His patients (like the soldier’s steam arm) gave him no rest day or night. There is no need to go into details here about Featherston’s people. His sister, Mary Ann, lived in his house at one time, and for everyday ailments was almost as good a doctor as he. She was not at all[2] like him: a merry, talkative, sociable little woman, with black hair and quick, kindly dark eyes.