Chapter 61 Summary

This chapter is a look at two very different families. The first family, the Taveners, are very wealthy. They have a dog suffering from rheumatism, which is very painful. The mother and daughter loudly remark that the father is entirely to blame for the dog's condition.

Tavener offers Herriot a drink, and Herriot notices that the man's hands shake. He can't decide whether the man has Parkinson's disease or if it is the shake of an alcoholic. Tavener spills the drinks, and his wife goes ballistic. She leaves with her daughter, but not until they both give Tavener a baleful look.

The next family, the Altons, are quite poor. Tim Alton has called Herriot to look at his prized pig. The animal has a terrible fever, but Herriot gives him an injection and says that the pig will be okay. Alton is a...