Dr Finlay's Casebook by AJ Cronin Read Free Book Online

was the worthy doctor so forbearing to his patients, so pleasant to Dr Finlay, so courteous to his
faithful housekeeper. Now that the no-longer-needed Bess had departed, presumably of her own free will, all was peace in the kitchen. And, as any good Scotsman will testify, when all is well below
stairs, then you have a happy home.
    Only one member of the household seemed not quite at ease. A worried frown disfigured the noble brow of Dr Finlay; his eye was clouded and remote. On several occasions when Dr Cameron addressed
him, he was obliged to stir himself and murmur, in apology, ‘What was that you said, sir?’
    Experience had shown that to disturb Finlay in these moods of introspection was to court disaster. If for instance some well meaning acquaintance, meeting him in the street, were to say,
smilingly, ‘What’s on your mind, Finlay, old boy?’ he might receive the sombre and totally unexpected answer, ‘Mind your own damn business, and let me mind mine.’ With
these offensive words, Finlay reserved the right to solve his own problems, and when the opportunity presented itself, to act upon them as he thought wise and proper.
    Some ten days later Finlay entered the establishment of Robert Buchanan, Barber and Hairdresser, and seated himself quietly to await his turn. This was not long in coming since Finlay was now an
acknowledged and esteemed personality in Tannochbrae. And soon Bob Buchanan himself came bustling out of his office to seat Finlay in the special chair by the window.
    ‘Is it the usual, Finlay? Cut and trim?’
    ‘Please, Bob. But first I would like to apologise for the treatment your splendid daughter received from our jealous auld bag o’ a housekeeper, who couldna bear to see your sweet
lass do everything so easily, ay, everything she groaned and complained about hersel’.’
    ‘Ay, Bess is a good lass, though lately she hasna been quite herself. Mind you, Finlay, she liked working for ye, and had hoped ye would teach her to dispense the medicines.’
    ‘And so I would have, Bob. I think the world of your lass and certainly would have helped her to take her dispenser’s certificate. In fact, it’s because I esteem her so highly
I would like your permission to speak of her today. Bob, as a father, what is your view on children – boys and girls – having full, complete, and unrestricted knowledge of each other
without the consent of their parents?’
    Bob was so surprised, he actually stopped snipping.
    ‘Why, Finlay, I . . . I think it would be abominable, disgusting and sinful in fact.’
    ‘These are exactly my views. For the fellow it’s little enough, he may or may not decide to marry the girl. But for the girl it is the ruination of everything that’s sacred and
can very easily end in disaster. What would Tannochbrae think of a dear wee lass who faces the village with a little bastard in her pram?’
    Bob stopped clipping altogether. ‘Finlay! I fear ye have something on your mind. Come into the office with me now.’
    Quickly, he brushed Finlay’s hair, whipped off the sheet, and led the way into his office. There, facing each other, the two men sat knee to knee in silence.
    At last Finlay felt obliged to speak:
    ‘Bob, my dear friend, whom I have known all my days, even when I was a bairn and my mother took me to you to have my curls cut. Bob, it breaks my heart to tell you, for I dearly love your
Bess . . . but it is my duty and I must do it. Bob, your daughter has been raped, used like a common whore and still is twice a week, behind a dyke, in the woods, anywhere at a’ and is abused
by a man we both know.’
    A deathly stillness settled over the little office, and Finlay prayed that he had made the right decision. He waited a few moments then said, as calmly as possible, ‘Now, dear Bob, this
painful information came to me as an admission from your daughter. I have struggled day and night with the problem of whether or not to tell you, but in the end I saw