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Mathematical Principles
of the Internet
Volume 1
Engineering Fundamentals
Volume 2
Mathematical Concepts
Mathematical Principles
of the Internet
Volume 1: Engineering Fundamentals
Nirdosh Bhatnagar
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
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Preface : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : xix
Prologue : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : xxxix
1. Information Theory : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 1
1.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1.3 Mutual Information and Relative Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3.1 Mutual Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
1.3.2 Relative Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
1.4 Noiseless Coding for Memoryless Source . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
1.4.1 Pair of Inequalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
1.4.2 Shannon-Fano Coding Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1.5 Data Compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
1.5.1 Huffman’s Coding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
1.5.2 Arithmetic Coding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
1.5.3 Lempel-Ziv Coding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
1.6 Communication Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
1.6.1 Discrete Memoryless Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
1.6.2 Symmetric Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
1.6.3 Extension of a Discrete Memoryless Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
1.6.4 Basics of Coding and Decoding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
1.6.5 Noiseless Communication Channel Coding Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
1.6.6 Noisy Communication Channel Coding Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
1.7 Differential Entropy and Capacity of Communication Channels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
1.7.1 Differential Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
1.7.2 Information Capacity Theorem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
viii Contents
3. Cryptography : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 173
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
3.2 Some Classical Ciphering Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
3.2.1 The Shift Cipher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
3.2.2 The Affine Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
3.2.3 A Polyalphabetic Cipher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
3.2.4 The Hill Cipher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
3.2.5 The Permutation Cipher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
3.2.6 One-Time Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
3.3 Cryptanalysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
3.4 Information-Theoretic Cryptanalysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
3.4.1 Probabilistic Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
3.4.2 Perfect Secrecy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
3.4.3 Entropy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
3.4.4 Combination of Cryptosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
3.4.5 Unicity Distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
3.5 Public-Key Cryptography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
3.5.1 The RSA Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
3.5.2 The El Gamal Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
3.6 Probabilistic Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
3.7 Homomorphic Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
3.7.1 Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
3.7.2 Algebraic Homomorphism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
3.7.3 Homomorphic Cryptosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
3.8 Digital Signatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
3.8.1 The RSA Signature Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
3.8.2 The El Gamal Signature Scheme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
3.9 Key Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
3.10 Elliptic Curve Based Cryptosystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
3.10.1 Elliptic Curve Based El Gamal Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
3.10.2 Menezes-Vanstone Elliptic Curve Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
3.10.3 Elliptic Curve Based Key Exchange Algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
3.11 Hyperelliptic Curve Based Cryptosystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
3.12 Hash Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
3.13 Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
3.13.1 Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
3.13.2 Message Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
3.14 The Data Encryption Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
3.14.1 The DES Algorithm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
x Contents
7. Stochastic Structure of the Internet and the World Wide Web : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 469
7.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 471
7.2 Metrics to Characterize Random Graphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472
7.3 Experimental Evidence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 473
7.3.1 Macroscopic Structure of the World Wide Web . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
7.3.2 A K-shell Decomposition of the Internet Topology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 475
7.4 Some Important Metrics Revisited . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
7.4.1 Degree Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 477
7.4.2 Clustering Coefficient . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 480
Contents xiii
Index : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : 1005
Preface
The author wrote this two-volume set of books to teach himself about the foundation and building
blocks of the Internet. To both his delight and dismay, the author found that this is indeed a continual
process. It is delightful, because there is so much to learn, and dismal because there is so little time.
Nevertheless, this work is a partial report of the author’s efforts to learn the elements (in a Euclidean
sense) of Internet engineering.
As with any grand scientific endeavor, the Internet is a product of several persons. The true
beauty of it is that this experiment, called the Internet is still evolving. It is the thesis of this work
that mathematics provides a strong basis upon which the Internet can be studied, analyzed, and
improved upon.
The purpose of this work is to provide a mathematical basis for some aspects of Internet en-
gineering. The Internet is a network of autonomous networks. It is also a young, unprecedented,
unparalleled, and continuously evolving man-made commercial and social phenomenon. Thus, the
Internet is in a state of constant flux. This italicized phrase appears to be an oxymoron, but it is
indeed a recurring and prominent theme in the description of the Internet. However, the Internet
has matured enough so that its structure deserves a careful study. In order to study the form and
function of the Internet only an elementary knowledge of mathematics is required. Even though the
form and functionality of any physical phenomenon are basically intertwined, the emphasis in this
work is upon the form and its structure. In order to strive towards this goal, the universal language:
mathematics is used. Moreover, as mathematician Richard Hamming opined, mathematics acts as a
conscience of large projects (such as the Internet).
The goal of modeling any natural or man-made phenomenon is to advance our understanding
of it. More specifically, the aim is to search for invariants that describe a phenomenon by using the
principle of parsimony (or simplicity). The principle of parsimony states that the description of a
phenomenon should be as simple as possible, be evocative, and use the least number of assumptions.
There is certainly no other tool, language, or discipline besides mathematics, which is capable
of meeting these requirements. The goal of this work is to offer the reader a glimpse of hidden
laws buried deep inside the complex network called the Internet. As usual, this phenomenon of the
Internet did not occur overnight, and so its success is indeed a testament to the human spirit.
xx Preface
Information theory, algebraic coding theory, cryptography, Internet traffic, dynamics and con-
trol of Internet congestion, and queueing theory are discussed in this work. In addition, stochas-
tic networks, graph-theoretic algorithms, application of game theory to the Internet, Internet eco-
nomics, data mining and knowledge discovery; and quantum computation, communication, and
cryptography are also discussed. Some of the topics like information theory, algebraic coding the-
ory, cryptography, queueing theory, and graph-theoretic algorithms are mature and relevant in both
understanding and designing the tapestry of the Internet. On other hand, some subjects like, Inter-
net traffic, dynamics and control of Internet congestion, stochastic structure of the Internet and the
World Wide Web, application of game theory to the Internet, Internet economics, and data mining
techniques are still evolving. However, the application of quantum computation, communication,
and cryptography is still in its infancy.
Note that this work by no means attempts, or is ambitious enough, to provide a complete de-
scription of the mathematical foundations upon which the Internet is based. It simply offers a partial
panorama and perspective of the principles upon which the Internet was envisioned. There are sev-
eral outstanding treatises, books, and monographs on different topics covered in this work. However
these are all targeted towards experts in the field. Furthermore, for those who are interested in sim-
ply the basic principles, these are much too detailed. In summary, no attempt was made in this work
to be encyclopedic.
As of today, the Internet is still in its infancy. Therefore, if it has to be regarded as a scientific
discipline, then its edifice has to be built upon sound mathematical principles. This is essentially
the premise and raison d’ être of this work. This assumption is not new. In his exultation, Eugene
P. Wigner a physicist by profession (physics Nobel Prize 1963) wrote an article: “The Unreason-
able Effectiveness of Mathematics in the Natural Sciences,” in the year 1959. He was sufficiently
impressed and awed by the utility of mathematics in modeling physical phenomena.
The selection of topics in describing certain fundamental aspects of Internet engineering is en-
tirely based upon the author’s wisdom or lack thereof. Others could have selected entirely different
themes to study. However, the author chose to study the subjects outlined below in more detail,
simply because of their utility value, importance, and elegance; perhaps not in that order.
Different analytical tools, which are used in describing the Internet are also listed, discussed,
and elaborated upon. These tools enable a more precise and deeper understanding of the concepts
upon which the Internet is built. An effort has been made to make this work succinct yet self-
contained, complete and readable. This work assumes that the reader is familiar with basic concepts
in computer networking. Although a certain level of mathematical maturity and aptitude is certainly
beneficial, all the relevant details have been summarized in this work.
In order to study the structure and function of the Internet only a basic knowledge of number
theory, abstract algebra, matrices and determinants, graph theory, geometry, applied analysis, opti-
mization, stability theory, and chaos theory; probability theory, and stochastic processes is required.
These mathematical disciplines are defined and developed in this work to the extent that is needed
to develop and justify their application to Internet engineering. The effort to do so is often substan-
tial and not elementary. Occasionally, applications of the intermix of these different mathematical
disciplines should also be evident in this work. A striking example is Wigner’s semicircle law of
random matrices, which uses elements of probability theory and matrices.
This work has been divided into two main parts. These are: certain fundamental aspects of
Internet engineering, and the corresponding mathematical prerequisites. In general, the chapters
Preface xxi
on mathematical concepts complement those on the engineering fundamentals. An effort has been
made to provide, justification and informal proofs of different assertions and propositions, as much
as possible. The word “proof” has been italicized, because there appears to be no universally ac-
cepted definition of it. It is hoped that the reader does not accept the mathematical results on faith.
He or she is encouraged to step through the proofs of the results. In order to lighten up the presenta-
tion, each chapter begins with a brief description of the life and works of a prominent mathematician
or scientist or engineer.
The Internet engineering fundamentals are described in Volume 1. Each chapter in this volume
essentially describes a single Internet engineering body of knowledge. The supporting mathematics
is outlined in Volume 2. It is hoped that these later chapters provide basic tools to analyze different
aspects of Internet engineering. These chapters on mathematics also go a long way towards making
the chapters on Internet engineering self-contained. Occasionally, additional material has been in-
cluded to improve the comprehensiveness of various definitions and theorems. Each volume has a
list of commonly used symbols. A list of Greek symbols is also provided for ready reference.
The two-volume set is titled Mathematical Principles of the Internet. The Volume 1 is titled
Engineering Fundamentals and Volume 2 Mathematical Concepts. The contents of the respective
volumes are:
The chapter details, along with their dependencies on other chapters are listed below.
Prologue: The prologue is an introduction to modeling the Internet. It provides a brief history
of communication, and an introduction to telecommunication networks, and the World Wide Web.
Some empirical laws about the value of a network are also outlined. This is followed by a rationale
for mathematical modeling of the Internet.
Dependency: This is independent of all other chapters.
Chapter 1. Information theory: The Internet is a vehicle for transportation of information. There-
fore concepts developed in information theory are immediately applicable. Information theory as
developed by Claude E. Shannon determines the ultimate transmission rate of a communication
channel, which is its channel capacity. It also aids in determining the ultimate data compression
rate. Concepts developed in information theory are also applicable to cryptography, and data min-
ing.
Dependency: Applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos theory; probability theory, and
stochastic processes.
Chapter 2. Algebraic coding theory: When information is transmitted on a noisy communication
channel, packets become error prone. Consequently error correcting codes merit a careful study.
This theory is based upon algebraic concepts developed by the likes of N. H. Abel and E. Galois.
Dependency: Number theory, abstract algebra, matrices and determinants, applied analysis, and
basics of information theory.
Chapter 3. Cryptography: The study of cryptographic techniques is essential in order to have
secure communication. The science and art of cryptographic techniques is as old as the history of
mankind itself. Since time immemorial cryptographic techniques have been practiced by both good
and bad persons (and organizations).
Dependency: Number theory, abstract algebra, matrices and determinants, applied analysis,
probability theory, and basics of information theory.
Chapter 4. Internet traffic: The predecessor of the Internet in the United States of America was
the telephone network. In the pre-Internet days it was designed to essentially carry voice traffic.
Voice traffic was generally described by Poisson processes and exponential distributions. In contrast
Internet traffic is self-similar and characterized by long-range dependence. The mathematical details
required to model this type of traffic are significantly more complicated than those of the voice
traffic. We also describe a model for Internet packet generation via nonlinear chaotic maps.
Dependency: Applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos theory; probability theory, and
stochastic processes.
Chapter 5. Dynamics, control, and management of Internet congestion: Congestion control in
the network addresses the problem of fair allocation of resources, so that the network can oper-
ate at an acceptable performance level when the traffic demand is very near the capacity of the
network. This is accomplished via a feedback mechanism. If Internet is modeled as a dynamical
system, then the stability of the feedback schemes should be studied carefully. In the midst of chaos
and congestion of the Internet, it is still possible to successfully manage traffic flow with different
characteristics and requirements. This is done via intelligent scheduling of packets. An idealized
Preface xxiii
scheme of packet scheduling called the generalized processor sharing (GPS) is discussed. Elements
of network calculus are also outlined. Wireless networks are studied by using stochastic geometry.
Dependency: Applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos theory; probability theory, and
stochastic processes.
Chapter 6. Queueing theory: Internet can be viewed as an extremely large queueing network.
Given a specific level of traffic, queueing theory evaluates the utilization of physical resources. It
also helps in modeling the response time characteristics of different types of Internet traffic. This
discipline requires a sound knowledge of stochastic processes, including Markov processes, some
knowledge of classical transformation techniques, and large deviation theory.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos
theory; probability theory, stochastic processes, and basics of Internet traffic.
Chapter 7. Stochastic structure of the Internet and the World Wide Web: In order to study the
structure of the Internet and the Web graph, it is assumed that these networks are stochastic. Use
of stochastic and nondeterministic models might perhaps be an expression of our ignorance. Nev-
ertheless, these models provide some useful insight into the structure of the Internet and the Web.
The spread of computer virus, and its vulnerability to external attacks are also studied.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, graph theory, geometry, applied analysis, probability
theory, stochastic processes; and optimization, stability, and chaos theory.
Chapter 8. Graph-theoretic algorithms: A network can be modeled abstractly as a graph, where
the vertices of the graph are the hosts and/or routers and its arcs are the transmission links. Using this
model, routing algorithms for transporting packets can be developed. Furthermore, the reliability of
the network layout can also be evaluated. The network coding technique is also described.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, graph theory, geometry, applied analysis, and proba-
bility theory.
Chapter 9. Game theory and the Internet: Game theory is the study of nonaltruistic interaction
between different entities (agents or users). This field of knowledge has found application in po-
litical science, sociology, moral philosophy, economics, evolution, and many other disciplines of
human endeavor. Due to the distributed nature of the Internet, game theory appears to be eminently
suitable to explore the selfish behavior of the Internet entities.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos
theory; and probability theory.
Chapter 10. Internet economics: Economics has to be one of the important drivers of the In-
ternet evolution. Interaction between network resources, congestion, and pricing are studied in this
chapter. In addition, service differentiation techniques; applications of auction theory, coalitional
game theory, and bargaining games are also elaborated upon.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, applied analysis; optimization, stability, and chaos
theory; and probability theory.
Chapter 11. Data mining and knowledge discovery: Internet makes the accessibility of informa-
tion so much more convenient. It also generates and stores enormous amounts of information. Data
mining and knowledge discovery processes help in extracting useful nuggets of information from
this immense amount of data.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, graph theory, applied analysis; optimization, stability,
and chaos theory; probability theory, stochastic processes, and basics of information theory.
Chapter 12. Quantum computation, communication, and cryptography: The author is by no
means suggesting that quantum computation, communication, and cryptography are the wave of
the future. However, the study of this discipline and its application to the Internet is interesting in
its own right. This paradigm offers immense parallelism. Furthermore, the algorithms developed
xxiv Preface
under this discipline are fascinating. Peter Shor’s factorization algorithm with possible application
to cryptography and Lov K. Grover’s search algorithm offer enough food for thought.
Dependency: Number theory, matrices and determinants, applied analysis, probability theory,
and basics of information theory.
Chapter 1. Number theory: Number theory is presumably the foundation of all branches of
mathematics. Some mathematicians might also opine that it is the purest of all mathematical disci-
plines. However this subject has found several important applications, most notably in cryptogra-
phy, signal processing, and error correcting codes. It has also made foray into quantum computation,
communication, and cryptography. Therefore to the dismay of the purists and to the delight of the
pragmatists the subject of number theory has indeed found practical applications.
Dependency: Abstract algebra, and matrices and determinants.
Chapter 2. Abstract algebra: This subject is used in developing error detecting and correcting
codes, cryptography, and quantum computation and communication.
Dependency: Number theory, and applied analysis.
Chapter 3. Matrices and determinants: Elementary as it might appear, applications of matrices
and determinants have produced several elegant results. The applications of matrices and deter-
minants can be found in error detection and correction codes, cryptography, graph-theoretic algo-
rithms, study of stochastic networks, queueing theory, game theory and the Internet, data mining
and knowledge discovery, and quantum computation and communication.
Dependency: Applied analysis, and probability theory.
Chapter 4. Graph theory: The subject of graph theory lays down the foundation for graph-
theoretic algorithms. It also includes study of routing algorithms, random graphs, power-law graphs,
and network flow algorithms.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants.
Chapter 5. Geometry: Geometry is one of the most ancient branch of mathematics. This subject,
more specifically hyperbolic geometry has found application in routing algorithms, and the study
of structure of the Internet.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, applied analysis; and optimization, stability, and chaos
theory.
Chapter 6. Applied analysis: Analysis is a deep mathematical discipline. Its applications pervade
all the topics discussed in this work including information theory, Internet traffic, queueing theory,
and dynamics and control of Internet congestion. Other prominent applications of this subject are
the application of game theory to the Internet, Internet economics, and data mining and knowledge
discovery.
Dependency: Number theory, and matrices and determinants.
Chapter 7. Optimization, stability, and chaos theory: Concepts related to optimization, stability,
and chaos theory can be found in information theory, application of game theory to the routing of
packets, modeling packet dynamics, control of Internet congestion, Internet economics, and data
mining and knowledge discovery.
Dependency: Matrices and determinants, and applied analysis.
Chapter 8. Probability theory: Probability theory, like any other theory has three parts. These
are formal axiomatics and definitions, applications, and intuitive background. This subject provides
the foundation for stochastic processes.
Dependency: Applied analysis; and optimization, stability, and chaos theory.
Preface xxv
Chapter 9. Stochastic processes: This subject is used in describing the laws and results of infor-
mation theory, Internet traffic, structure of the Internet and the Web graphs, queueing theory, and
data mining and knowledge discovery.
Dependency: Applied analysis, and probability theory.
(a) Uniqueness of the work: What is so special about this work? It is the author’s humble belief,
that the material presented in this work is the first of its type to describe the Internet. To the
author’s knowledge, several topics are discussed for the very first time in a student-friendly
textbook form.
(b) Precise presentation: All the axioms, definitions, lemmas, theorems, corollaries, observations,
and examples are clearly delineated in the chapters on mathematics. Proofs of important lem-
mas, theorems, and corollaries are also provided. These results are used to precisely state,
prove, and develop significant engineering results. Important facts are presented as observa-
tions.
(c) Self-contained: The author has strived to make this work self-contained as much as possible.
That is, sufficient mathematical background is provided to make the discussion of different
topics complete. The author also does not assume that the reader has any prior knowledge of
the subject. Sufficient mathematical details are also provided, so that the results of Internet
related mathematics can be stated with plausible proofs.
(d) Independence of chapters: All chapters on Internet engineering are largely independent of
each other. Each chapter is organized into sections and subsections. Concepts are made precise
via the use of definitions. Notation is generally introduced in the definitions. Relatively easy
consequences of the definitions are listed as observations, and important results are stated as
theorems.
(e) Historical introduction: Prologue and each chapter begin with a brief biography of a mathe-
matician or a scientist or an engineer. The purpose of providing biographies is two-fold. The
first purpose is to provide inspiration to the student, and the second is to inform him or her
about the lives of persons who developed important mathematical and engineering concepts. It
is left to the individual student to evaluate the impact of these ideas upon the description and
evolution of the Internet.
(f) List of observations: Several significant results are listed precisely as observations. Proofs of
some of these observations are outlined in the problem section provided at the end of each
chapter.
(g) Examples and figures: Each chapter is interspersed with several examples. These examples
serve to clarify, enhance, and sometimes motivate different results. It is the author’s belief that
examples play a crucial role in getting a firm grasp of the subject. If and where necessary,
figures are provided to improve the clarity of the exposition.
(h) Algorithms: Algorithms are provided in a pseudocode format for ready implementation in any
high-level language.
(i) Reference notes: Each chapter is provided with a reference-notes section. This section lists the
primary sources of the technical literature used in writing the chapter. These sources generally
constitute the main citations. Sources for further study are also provided.
xxvi Preface
(j) Problems: Each chapter is provided with a problem section. Besides, enhancing the material
presented in the main chapter, each problem states a significant result. A majority of the prob-
lems are provided with sufficient hints. In order to keep the continuity and not clutter with too
many details, proofs of important observations made in the chapter are relegated to the problem
section. It is strongly suggested that the reader peruse the problem section.
(k) List of references: A list of references is provided at the end of each chapter.
(l) List of symbols: A list of commonly used symbols and Greek letters is provided.
(m) User-friendly index: A comprehensive and user-friendly index of topics is provided at the end
of each volume.
This work evolved as the author taught courses on network modeling and related topics. These
books can be used either in an upper-level undergraduate or first-year graduate class in electrical
engineering or computer science. The choice and depth of topics actually depends upon the prepa-
ration of the students.
These books should also serve as a useful reference for networking researchers, professionals
and practitioners of the art of Internet engineering, that will provide a better understanding and
appreciation for the deeper engineering principles which are central to Internet engineering. This,
in turn would provide the necessary guidelines for designing the next generation of the Internet.
The pseudocode for the different algorithms has been written with especial care, but is not guar-
anteed for any specific purpose. It is also quite possible, that the author has not provided complete
credit to the different contributors of the subject. To them, the author offers a sincere apology for any
such inadvertent omission. Receiving information about errors, and suggestions for improvement
of the books will be greatly appreciated.
Acknowledgments
Invention of the Internet was perhaps, one of the greatest technical achievements of the last
century. Therefore, first and foremost I offer my sincere thanks to the inventors and builders of the
Internet for their heroic work and dedication. I am also grateful to all the authors whose names
appear in the list of references provided at the end of each chapter.
Further, these books were written in LATEX, which is an extension of TEX. TEXis a trademark
of American Mathematical Society. So a very special thanks to their respective creators: Leslie
Lamport and Donald E. Knuth.
The impetus for the publication of this work was provided by Sartaj Sahni. I am forever grate-
ful to him for his initial interest and consideration. His own work has certainly been a source of
inspiration. My first contact at Taylor and Francis Publications was with Randi Cohen. She had
been most courteous and extremely patient. The other staff members at Taylor and Francis Publi-
cations, including Robin Lloyd-Starkes, Alice Mulhern, and Veronica Rodriguez have been most
cooperative. Expert typesetting was provided by Shashi Kumar. The constructive comments and
suggestions provided by anonymous reviewers are also appreciated. Encouragement provided by
Shyam P. Parekh is certainly treasured.
Preface xxvii
This work would not have been possible without the inspiration of my students and esteemed
teachers. A very special thanks is extended to family, friends, and colleagues for their unwavering
support. Occasional help in diction and artwork was provided by Rishi who makes all the work
worthwhile.
NB
San Jose, California
Email address: nbhatnagar@alumni.stanford.edu
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was timid, loving, enthusiastic—in every respect a woman. He was
gifted with those firmer qualities which bespeak a manly mind, but
he had a heart that could love deeply and feel acutely;
And, if sometimes, a sigh should intervene,
Or down his cheek a tear of pity roll,
A sigh, a tear so sweet, he wished not to control.
But there are some men that can look on woman’s grief, and yet
coolly calculate on turning it to their own purposes; and so it was in
the present case. Elsie Morrice was lovely, and that was enough for
him. He promised everything, and her heart overflowed with
gratitude. He not only promised this, but he requested her
grandmother’s lease, to draw it out anew in her name. Elsie ran
home, and, in a few minutes, without consulting her grandmother,
the lease was in his hands: for who could doubt the intentions of him
who had pledged his word that William Gordon should be put
ashore? This was no sooner done, than came the sneer at her lover,
the information that his Majesty’s navy must be manned, the hint at
the injury to the landlord in old leases, and the proposal of the
remedy that was to remove all these evils. The colour fled from
Elsie’s face. She stood the picture of complete despair, and, for a
little time, reason had to dispute for her sovereignty in her mind. She
rushed from his presence, and, in her way back to Sunnybrae, saw,
without shedding one tear, the vessel that contained her lover spread
her broad sails to the wind and depart. Janet Morrice reproached her
not when she told her what she had done, but, taking her in her
arms, said, “Come, my Elsie, we maunna bide to be putten out. I’ve
sitten here, and my fathers afore me, an’ I’m wae to leave it; but age
and innocence will find a shelter somewhere else.” Next day they
removed to a cottage on a neighbouring estate. A verbal message was
all that William could send her; but it was the assurance he would be
soon back to her. Elsie seemed now to live in another state of
existence. She toiled in the fields, and seemed anxious to make up to
her grandmother the effects of her imprudence. Time passed on, and
no letter arrived from William, and Elsie grew sorrowful and
melancholy. Grief and labour bore down a constitution naturally
delicate, and she drooped.
There is something to my mind particularly holy and heavenly in
the death-bed of a lovely woman. When I look on the pale cheek,
which now and then regains more than its former colour in some
feverish flush—on the sunk eye which occasionally beams with a
short and transient hope—on the pale lips which utter low sounds of
comfort to those around—and, more especially, on that whole
countenance and appearance which bespeak patient resignation and
a trust in that Word which has said there is another and a better
world—I cannot help thinking that the being, even in her mortality, is
already a deserving inmate of that place where all is immortality. I
have stood at the grave while some of my earliest friends have been
lowered into the ground, and I have wept to think that the bright
hopes of youth were for ever fled—that the fair promises of youthful
genius were wrapt within the clay-cold tomb—and that all the
anticipations of the world’s applause had ended in the one formal
bow of a few friends over mouldering ashes; but I confess I have
sorrowed more at the grave of a young and lovely woman who had
nothing to excite my compassion but her beauty and her
helplessness; and often have the lines of that poet, who could be
pathetic as well as sublime, come to my lips,—
Yet can I not persuade me thou art dead,
Or that thy corpse corrupts in earth’s dark womb,
Or that thy beauties lie in wormy bed,
Hid from the world in a low-delvèd tomb.
By Daniel Gorrie.
Chapter I.
Soon after I had obtained my diploma, and was dubbed M.D., an
opening for a medical practitioner occurred in the pleasant village of
St Dunstan, situated on the beautiful banks of the Tweed. Knowing
well that I might be forestalled by a day’s delay, I bundled up my
testimonials and letters of recommendation, and departed at once
for the scene of action. The shadows of a calm October evening were
drooping over the Eildon Hills, and the Tweed was murmuring
peacefully along its winding course, when I entered the principal
street of the village, and took up my quarters at the inn. After
refreshing myself with such entertainment as the house afforded, I
called in the landlord, told him the object of my visit, and inquired if
any other medical gentlemen had yet made their appearance. Mine
host was a canny, cautious Scotsman, and manifested due
deliberation in a matter of so much moment. He surveyed me quietly
for a short time, and did not reply until he seemed satisfied with his
scrutiny.
“Na, sir,” he said at length; “ye’re the first that’s come to the toun
yet, and a’ the folk are wearying for anither doctor. Ye see, we canna
tell what may happen. The shoemaker’s wife took unco onweel last
nicht, and, frail as he is himsel, puir man, he had to gang a’ the way
to Melrose for medical advice. Ye look young like, sir; hae ye been in
ony place afore?”
“No,” I replied; “it is not very long since I passed.”
“Ay, weel, that’s no sae gude; we rather like a skeely man here. Dr
Sommerville had a great deal o’ experience, and we were a’ sorry
when he left for Glasgow.”
“I am glad that the good people of St Dunstan liked their last
doctor so well,” I rejoined, somewhat nettled at the plain-spokenness
of the worthy landlord of the Cross-Keys. “But although my youth
may be against me,” I continued, “here are some testimonials which I
hope may prove satisfactory, and I have several letters of
recommendation besides to gentlemen in the village and
neighbourhood.”
The landlord was a person whom I saw that it was necessary to
gain over. He was vastly pleased when I recognised his importance
by producing my testimonials for his inspection. It was amusing to
observe the gravity and dignity with which he adjusted his spectacles
across the bridge of his nose, and proceeded to carefully inspect the
documents. At intervals as he read he gave such running comments
as “gude”—“very gude”—“excellent”—“capital sir, capital!” I was glad
to see the barometer rising so rapidly. After mine host had finished
the perusal of the papers, he shook me heartily by the hand, and said,
“You’re the very man we want, sir; ye hae first-rate certificats.”
So far, so good. It was a great thing to have gained the confidence
and goodwill of one important personage, and I felt desirous to make
further conquests that evening.
“Do you think I might venture to call to-night upon any of the
parties in the village to whom I have letters of recommendation?” I
inquired.
“Surely, surely,” responded the landlord; “the sooner the better.
Just read me ower their names, sir, and I’ll tak ye round to their
houses. We hae a better chance o’ gettin’ them in at nicht than
through the day.”
Accompanied by the lord of the Cross-Keys, I accordingly visited
the leading inhabitants of the village, and made what an expectant
member of Parliament would consider a very satisfactory canvass. I
was received with much courtesy and civility; and the minister of the
parish, to whom I had a letter of introduction from a brother
clergyman in Edinburgh, paid me the most flattering attentions, and
pressed me to take up my abode immediately at St Dunstan. The
ladies, married and unmarried, with whom I entered into
conversation, were all unanimous in expressing their desire that I
should remain in their midst. Indeed, I have observed that the
female sex invariably take the greatest interest in the settlement of
ministers and doctors. I could easily understand why the unmarried
ladies should prefer a single gentleman like myself; but I could not
comprehend at the time why their mothers seemed to take so much
interest in a newly-fledged M.D. It struck me that the landlord of the
inn must have committed a great mistake in describing Dr
Sommerville as the favourite of all classes.
From many of the people upon whom we called I received kind
invitations to spend the night in their houses, and I could have slept
in a dozen different beds if I had felt so inclined; but I preferred
returning to the Cross-Keys, that, like the Apostle, I might be
burdensome to none. It is a piece of worldly prudence to give as little
trouble as possible to strangers; and medical practitioners, of all men
in the world, require to be wary in their ways, and circumspect in
their actions.
On our return to the inn, the landlord appeared to regard my
settlement in St Dunstan as a certainty.
“Ye’ve got on grandly the nicht, Dr Wilson,” he said, dropping the
“sir” when he considered me almost installed in office. “Ye’ve carried
everything afore ye—I never saw the like o’t. Ye hae got the promise
o’ practice frae the hale lot o’ them—that’s to say, when they need the
attendance o’ a medical man; and, ’od, doctor, but the womenkind
are aften complainin’.”
“Well, Mr Barlas,” I said (such was the landlord’s name), “I have
experienced much kindness and civility, and in the course of a few
hours I have far outstripped my expectations. If I only succeed as
well with the ladies and gentlemen in the neighbourhood, I will not
hesitate for a moment in settling down in the midst of you.”
“There’s nae danger o’ that, doctor. What’s sauce or senna for the
goose is sauce or senna for the gander. I’ve seen aften eneuch that
the grit folk are no sae ill to please as the sma’. If ye get ower the
Laird,—an’ I think ye’ve as gude a chance as ony ither body,—ye
needna fear muckle for the rest.”
“And who is the Laird, Mr Barlas?” I asked.
“Oh, just the Laird, ye ken—Laird Ramsay o’ the Haugh; ye’ll
surely hae heard o’ him afore you cam south?”
“Ramsay,” I said; “Ramsay—oh, yes,—I have a letter of
introduction to a gentleman of that name from a professor in
Edinburgh. Does he rule the roast in this neighbourhood?”
“I’ll tell you aboot him i’ the noo; but wait a wee, doctor, till I bring
ye something warm.”
I did not disapprove of the medicine proposed by the host of the
Cross-Keys of St Dunstan, as I was anxious to know as much as
possible about the place and people; and the influence of hot punch
in making even silent persons communicative is quite proverbial. Mr
Barlas, after a brief absence, returned to the snug little parlour,
bearing his own private blue bottle, capable, I should think, of
holding a good half-gallon of Islay or Glenlivet; and we were soon
sitting comfortably, with steaming tumblers before us, beside a
blazing fire.
“This is something social like, noo, doctor,” said the composed and
considerate landlord. “Ye were wantin’ to hear aboot the Laird. Weel,
I’ll tell ye what sort o’ a being he is, that ye may be on your guard
when ye gang to the Haugh the morn. Laird Ramsay has mair gear,
doctor, than ony half-dozen o’ his neighbours for mony miles roond,
and he’s a queer character wi’d a’. He’s unco auld-fashioned for a
man in his station, an’ speaks muckle sic like as ye hear me speakin’
i’ the noo. He gets the name o’ haudin’ a gude grip o’ his siller; but
I’ve nae reason to compleen, as he spends freely eneuch when he
comes to the Cross-Keys, no forgettin’ the servant-lass and the ostler;
an’ I ken for a fac’ that he slips a canny shillin’ noo and again into the
loofs o’ the puir folk o’ St Dunstan. He’s unco douce and proud,—ye
micht maist say saucy,—until ye get the richt side o’ him, an’ then
he’s the best o’ freends; an’ nane better than the Laird at a twa-
handed crack.”
“And how do you get to the right side of him, Mr Barlas?” I
interjected.
“That’s the very thing I was gaun to tell ye, doctor. Lay on the
butter weel. Butter him on baith sides, an’ then ye easy get to the
richt side. Praise his land, his craps, his nowte, his house, his garden,
his Glenlivet, his everything; but tak care what ye say o’ his dochter
to his face.”
“The Laird has got a daughter, then, it seems?”
“Ay, that he has, an’ a comely quean she is; but he’ll be a clever
man wha can rin awa wi’ her frae the Haugh. The Laird just dotes
upon her, an’ he wouldna pairt wi’ her for love or siller. If she has a
sweetheart, I’m thinkin’ he’ll need to sook his thoomb, an’ bide a
wee.”
In answer to my inquiries the landlord informed me that Miss
Jessie Ramsay was the Laird’s only daughter, and that her mother
had been dead for several years. His information and anecdotes
regarding the eccentric character of the old-fashioned proprietor of
the Haugh, excited my curiosity so much that I resolved to pay him
an early visit on the following day. After sitting for an hour or two,
during which time Mr Barlas became more and more loquacious, I
seized the first favourable opportunity to propose an adjournment,
and receiving the reluctant assent of mine host, I retired to rest, and
slept soundly in spite of all the crowing cocks of St Dunstan.
In the morning the tidings were through the whole village that a
new doctor had come, and several people became suddenly unwell,
for the express purpose, I presume, of testing my skill. Three urgent
cases I found to be ordinary headache, and, fearing lest my trip to the
Haugh might be delayed for two weeks, I hired the best hack the
Cross-Keys could afford, and made off for the domicile of the
eccentric Laird. The owner of the hack was very anxious to
accompany me, but I preferred making the excursion alone. The
weather was mild and delightful; the trees seemed lovelier in decay
than in the fulness of summer life; and the Tweed flowed and
murmured softly as the waters of Siloah. Half-an-hour’s riding
brought me to the Haugh—an ancient edifice embosomed among
trees. In the prime of its youth it would doubtless be considered a
splendid mansion; but in its old age it had an ungainly appearance,
although not altogether destitute of a certain picturesque air. After
disposing of my hack to a little Jack-of-all-work urchin, who was
looking about for some work to do, or meditating mischief, I knocked
at the door, and was ushered, by an old serving-woman, into a quaint
apartment, crammed with antique furniture. The mantelpiece
absolutely groaned under its load of ornaments, while a great
spreading plume of peacock’s feathers waved triumphantly over all.
This must be the Laird’s fancy, I thought, and not the taste of Miss
Jessie. Several pictures illustrative of fox-hunting, and two portraits,
adorned the walls. None of them could be considered as belonging to
any particular school, or as masterpieces in art. On the window-
blinds a besieging force was represented as assaulting a not very
formidable castle.
While I sat amusing myself with the oddities of the apartment, the
door opened, and the Laird entered. He was a gray-haired, ruddy-
faced, shrewd-looking man of fifty or thereabouts. I was rather taken
with his dress. He wore a blue coat of antique cut, knee breeches,
long brown gaiters with metal buttons, and his vest was beautified
with perpendicular yellow stripes. There was an air of dignity about
him when he entered as though he were conscious that he was Laird
of the Haugh, and that I had come to consult him about some
important business. Being a Justice of the Peace, as I afterwards
learned, he probably wished to impress a stranger with a sense of his
official greatness. I did not know very well whether to address him as
Mr Ramsay or the “Laird;” but he relieved me of the difficulty by
saying in broad Scotch, “This is a grand day, sir; hae ye ridden far?”
“No,” I replied, “only from St Dunstan.”
“Just that—just that,” said the Laird, with a peculiar tone. “I thocht
as much when I met the callant leadin’ awa the Cross-Key’s charger,
—puir beast!”
I handed the Laird the letter of introduction which I had received
from one of the medical professors in Edinburgh. He read it very
slowly, as though he were spelling and weighing every word, and he
had perused it twice from beginning to end before he rose and
welcomed me to the Haugh.
“He’s a clever man, that professor,” quoth Laird Ramsay; “an’ he
speaks o’ ye, doctor, in a flattering way; but the proof o’ the puddin’
is the preein’ o’t, ye ken. Ye’ve shown some spunk in comin’ sae quick
to St Dunstan; but ye’re young eneuch to be on your ain coat-tail
yet.”
“We must begin somewhere and sometime, Mr Ramsay,” I
rejoined.
“Ye’re richt there,” answered the Laird; and then added with a
chuckle, “but patients dinna like to be made victims o’. However,
we’ll think aboot that. Ye’ll be nane the worse o’ something to eat and
drink, I’m thinkin’; an’ to tell the truth, I want to weet my ain
whistle.”
So saying, the Laird o’ the Haugh rose and rang the bell, and told
the old serving-woman, the handmaiden of the household, to bid
Jessie speak to him. In a short time Jessie, a tall, handsome, hearty,
fresh-coloured, black-haired beauty, came tripping into the room.
The Laird was not very ceremonious so far as the matter of
introduction was concerned, but Jessie was one of those frank girls
who can introduce themselves, and make you feel perfectly at home
at once. The father and daughter were evidently strongly attached to
each other.
“Bring us some wine first, like a gude lass,” said the Laird, “an’
then we’ll tak something mair substantial when ye’re ready.”
Jessie, like a dutiful daughter, placed the decanters and glasses on
the table. There was an elasticity in her step, a grace in her every
motion, and an irresistible charm in her frank and affectionate smile.
The Laird did not seem altogether to relish the manner in which my
eyes involuntarily followed her movements; and remembering what
mine host of the Cross-Keys had told me on the previous night, I
resolved to be as circumspect as possible, both in look and word. The
Laird o’ the Haugh pledged the young doctor, and the young doctor
pledged the Laird. Meanwhile, Jessie had disappeared to look after
the substantials. A glass or two of his capital wine warmed Laird
Ramsay into a fine conversational mood, and we got on famously
together. After dinner, when the punch was produced, our intimacy
increased, and I began to love the eccentric Laird for the sake of his
beautiful and accomplished daughter. I discovered that he had a
hearty relish for humorous stories and anecdotes, and I plied him
with them in thick succession, until the fountain of laughter ran over
in tears. I was determined to take the old gentleman by storm, and
Miss Jessie, with quick feminine instinct, appeared to be more than
half aware of my object. However, I carefully abstained from exciting
his suspicion by conversing directly with Jessie, even when he
appeared to be in the most genial and pleasant mood.
The evening was pretty far advanced when I left his hospitable
board. “Mind, you’re to be the doctor o’ St Dunstan,” he said, as I
mounted the Cross-Key’s charger. “We’ll hae naebody but yoursel,
an’ ye mun be sure an’ come back soon again to the Haugh.” I rode
home to mine inn fully resolved to locate myself in the village, and
firmly persuaded that if I had not captivated the Laird’s daughter, I
had at least conquered the Laird himself.
Chapter II.
“Weel, doctor, is it a’ richt wi’ the Laird?” inquired Mr Barlas when
I returned to the Cross-Keys.
“Yes,” I rejoined, “it’s all right. Laird Ramsay is now my warmest
and staunchest supporter, and a most companionable old gentleman
he is.”
“I never heard the like o’ that,” said the landlord, lifting up his
eyebrows in astonishment. “’Od, doctor, ye’re jist like that auld
Roman reiver, Cæsar, wha gaed aboot seein’ and conquerin’. Ye hae a
clear coast noo, when ye hae gotten the gudewill o’ the Laird and the
minister. An’ what think ye o’ the dochter? Isna she a comely lass,
Miss Ramsay?”
“She is, indeed, Mr Barlas,” I replied. “The young lady seems to do
her best to make her father feel happy and comfortable, and I have
no doubt that many ‘braw wooers’ will frequently find their way to
the Haugh.”
“Na, doctor, na. As I tell’t ye afore, the Laird is unco fond o’ Miss
Jessie, an’ I dinna believe he would pairt wi’ her to the best man i’ the
kintra-side. But ye hae sic an uncommon power o’ comin’ roond folk
that I wouldna wonner to see ye tryin’t yersel.”
“Stranger things have happened, Mr Barlas,” I rejoined.
“Meantime, my mind is made up to settle down in St Dunstan. I like
the place and the people, the Eildon Hills, the Tweed, and Laird
Ramsay.”
“No to speak o’ his dochter,” interjected mine host with a knowing
look.
“But where,” I continued, “am I to take up my quarters?”
“Ye needna put yersel in a peck o’ troubles aboot that, doctor.
There’s Dr Sommerville’s cottage just waitin’ for ye alang the road a
bit. It’s a commodious hoose, wi’ trees roond it an’ a bonny garden at
the back, slopin’ to the south. Dr Sommerville was fond o’ flowers,
an’ I never saw a pleasanter place than it was in simmer. But the fac’
is, ye’ll hae to tak it, doctor, because there’s no anither hoose to let in
the hale toun.”
“Such being the case, Mr Barlas, there is no choice, and the matter
is settled.”
“Just that—just that,” responded the worthy landlord, and then
added, with an eye to business, “Ye can mak the Cross-Keys yer hame
till ye get the cottage a’ painted an’ furnished to your mind.”
“So be it, Mr Barlas; and now that the house is settled, what about
a housekeeper? Was Dr Sommerville married?”
“Married? of course, he was married, an’ had lots o’ weans to the
bargain. But just try yer hand wi’ Miss Ramsay. I would like grand to
see ye at that game, doctor.”
“Nonsense,” I rejoined. “I do not want to steal the Laird’s ewe-
lamb, and break with him at the very commencement of my course.
Is there no quiet, decent, honest body about St Dunstan who would
make a good and active housekeeper?”
“They’re a’ honest an’ decent thegither, except it be twa or three o’
the canglin’ mugger folk wha mend auld pans and break ane
anither’s heads. Let me see—stop a wee—ou, ay—I have ye noo,
doctor; there’s Mrs Johnston—a clean, thrifty, tidy woman o’ forty or
thereabouts; she’ll fit ye to a T, an’ keep yer hoose like a new leek.
Her gudeman was an elder; but he took an inward trouble aboot a
year syne, an’ a’ the skill o’ Doctor Sommerville couldna keep his life
in when his time was come. I’ll speak to Mrs Johnston the morn, so
ye can keep yer mind easy aboot a housekeeper.”
“We’re getting on famously, Mr Barlas. The house and
housekeeper are both disposed of. What next?”
“What next, doctor? The next thing, I’m thinkin’, ’ill be a horse.
Folk will be sendin’ for ye post-haste to gang sax or seven miles awa,
an’ ye canna get on without a beast. Are ye onything skeely in
horseflesh?”
“No,” I replied, “not particularly. I would require to purchase a
horse by proxy.”
This reply appeared to give mine host considerable satisfaction.
After a brief pause he said, “Weel, doctor, what think ye o’ the beastie
that took ye to the Haugh the day? It’s fine an’ canny, an’ free frae a’
kind o’ pranks. It would never fling ye aff an’ break your banes when
ye were gaun to mend ither folk’s bodies. It’ll no cost ye muckle siller,
and ye’ll get a capital bargain wi’ the beast.”
I could not help smiling when the landlord detailed the excellent
qualities of the Rosinante of the Cross-Keys—the superb steed which
excited the compassion of Laird Ramsay.
“It is an admirable animal, Mr Barlas,” I replied, always careful to
avoid giving offence; “but the truth is, there is a friend of mine in
Edinburgh who is great in horses, and who would never forgive me if
I did not permit him to make the selection and the purchase.”
“Vera weel, doctor—vera well,” rejoined the landlord, professing
contentment, although apparently somewhat chagrined. “Ye may get
a stronger and mair speerity beast; but, tak my word for’t, ye’ll no get
ane to answer yer purpose better. It’s an extraordinar’ sensible
animal, an’ kens a’ the roads aboot the kintra-side. In the darkest
winter nicht ye micht fling the bridle on its neck, and it would bring
ye hame to St Dunstan safe an’ soond. Ye can tak anither thocht
about it, doctor, an’ I mun awa an’ gie the beast its supper.”
A few weeks after the above confab with the sagacious landlord of
the Cross-Keys, I was quietly domiciled in Oakbank Cottage, on the
outskirts of St Dunstan, and had commenced the routine work of a
medical practitioner. Mrs Johnston was duly installed as
housekeeper; and a capital riding-horse, which Mr Barlas was
compelled to allow “micht do,” arrived from the metropolis. I liked
my cottage very much. It stood apart from the public road, and was
quiet and secluded. Rows of poplar trees surrounded the green, and
flower pots in front, and a tall beechen-hedge girdled on all sides the
sloping garden in the rear. The high banks of the Tweed, adorned
with many-tinted foliage, swept along close at hand, and the strong
deep gush of that noble river was borne abroad on every swell of
wind. Oakbank Cottage was, in my estimation, the sweetest residence
in and around St Dunstan; and as I, like my predecessor, was fond of
floriculture, I resolved to make the place look like a little paradise
when the spring and summer months came round again. I was not
long in getting into a good practice. There was not much opposition
from other gentlemen in the district, and many miles I rode both by
night and by day. It always vexed the heart of my worthy
housekeeper, Mrs Johnston, when a special messenger called me
away to a distance after nightfall, and there was no end to the
instructions she gave me—M.D. though I was—about the best means
of preventing sore throats and rheumatisms. Mrs Johnston had
never listened to the learned prelections of medical professors at any
of our universities; nevertheless, like many other sensible and sedate
women, in her own sphere of life, she had managed to pick up no
inconsiderable amount of sound medical knowledge.
I was soon on the best of terms with all the people of the village,
for it will generally be found that while a clergyman has admirers
and detractors among his own hearers, a doctor who is gifted with a
modicum of amiability can easily make himself a favourite with all
classes. Of course, when any person dies, the friends of the deceased
will not unfrequently declaim against the imperfection of the medical
treatment; but grumblings such as these are natural and pardonable,
and fail to shake the general esteem in which the practitioner is held.
The minister of the parish was a frequent visitor at Oakbank, and in
order to strengthen our good fellowship, I became a member of his
congregation. He was an upright and honest-hearted man, although
somewhat too polemical for my taste. I used to think that he was in
the habit of airing his argumentative speeches in my presence before
he delivered himself of them at Presbytery meetings.
None of the people in the district seemed better satisfied than
Laird Ramsay o’ the Haugh that I had located myself in St Dunstan.
He called one day at Oakbank, soon after my settlement, just as I was
preparing to set out on a rural ride. The Laird was attired in the
ordinary dress which he wore at the Haugh. The brown hat, the blue
antique coat, the knee-breeches, the long gaiters, and the yellow-
striped vest, seemed to form a part of his eccentric character.
“Gude day t’ye, Dr Wilson—gude day,” said the Laird, as he shook
me by the hand. “What way hae ye been sae lang in comin’ ower my
way? I’m wearyin’ sair to get anither firlot o’ yon queer humoursome
stories oot o’ ye. Can ye come ower to the Haugh the morn, and tak a
bit check o’ dinner wi’ some freends that I’m just on the road to
inveet to meet you, doctor?”
“It will afford me much pleasure, Mr Ramsay.”
“That’s richt—that’s richt. Gie a’ yer patients a double dram o’
medicine the day, an’ that’ll save ye trouble the morn. I’ll no deteen
ye langer i’ the noo, since I see ye’re for takin’ the road. Man, doctor,
that’s a capital horse ye’ve gotten. I’ll try ye a steeplechase some day,
auld as I am.”
Next day I did not forget to mount my horse, which I had
christened Prince Charlie, and ride over to the Haugh. It was more
the desire to meet again the handsome and black-haired Jessie, than
the expectation of a good dinner,—in which the laird was said to
excel,—that made me keep my appointment with scrupulous care,
although two or three of my distant patients thereby missed an
expected visit. I found a goodly company assembled in the Laird’s
old-fashioned mansion. Several neighbouring lairds with their wives
were present, my excellent friend the minister of the parish, and
some of the “chief men” of St Dunstan. A few young ladies graced the
company; but it struck me as something singular that I was the only
young gentleman who had been honoured with an invitation. Does
the Laird really think, I asked myself, that he will keep away the
dangerous disease of love from his charming daughter’s heart by
excluding chivalrous youths from his dinner-table? What intense
selfishness there may be in the warmest paternal affection! Nor was
selfishness altogether absent from my own heart. I began to feel a
kind of secret satisfaction that the coast was clear, and that
undivided attentions could be given and received. Jessie was all
smiles, grace, and beauty; and before dinner was finished, I was
more than charmed—I was bewitched with her manners and
conversation. When the ladies retired from table I endeavoured, as
on the former occasion, to keep the Laird o’ the Haugh in good
humour, being now determined, for a particular reason, to rise rather
than fall in his estimation. When the minister introduced polemics I
flung out a shower of puns; when oxen became the topic I spiced the
talk with some racy stories. The ruse succeeded. Between the strong
waters and the stories, Laird Ramsay was elevated into a hilarious
region, and he would have forgiven his worst enemy on the spot. He
was not aware that I was playing with him and upon him for a
purpose. When my stock was getting exhausted I started the minister
on his everlasting expedition to Rome, and managed, at the
commencement of his narrative, to escape from table unperceived. I
was not particularly anxious to “join the ladies;” but I was excessively
desirous to have, if possible, some private conversation with Jessie
Ramsay. There could be no denying the fact that I—the young
medical practitioner of St Dunstan—had fallen in love, how or why it