Action Balfour, Andrew: The Golden Kingdom. v1. 19 Sep 2016

[crutledge]

Sir Andrew Balfour KCMG CB (21 March 1873 – 30 January 1931) was a Scottish Medical Officer who specialised in tropical medicine. Balfour spent twelve years in Khartoum, Sudan and was the Medical Officer of Health in the city. As well as writing medical publications, Balfour also wrote historical fiction and fantasy novels, the majority of which were published from 1897 to 1903. In his youth Balfour was also a notable sportsman playing rugby union for Cambridge University in the Varsity Match and was selected to represent the Scotland national team.

Excerpt
It was in very truth a vile night, the vilest of the winter, and that winter no green yule-tide. I was weary, and had been wet; all day in the saddle, my grey mare fetlock deep in slush and snow, and the saddle-bags, damp and soaking, swinging against my knees till my very joints were stiff. Weary, and a trifle out of spirits at the dull round of life, the prosaic duties of a village leech, the empty house which had greeted my return, and above all the thought that when others rested from their labours I was yet in harness. Mistress Pumphret, the squire’s lady, was taken with an ague and like to die, so that at any moment there might come a rat-a-tat at the oak, which would mean for me a weary trudge with lanthorn and lancet, and no cosy bed and sound slumber.

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