The explanation and sudden introduction of an unexpected visitor.

My usual "bad luck" attending us, we found upon calling on our way home, at the worthy doctor's, that he was waiting upon a lady, and had been on duty all night, and that he was still there" on the look out." The glorious uncertainty of the suffering fair sex upon these interesting occasions is too proverbial to have given us much hope of seeing him, so sending under the circumstances for the regimental surgeon then quartered at Carlisle Castle, who was quite a man of the world, and who had already heard through one of his officers of the "affair of the morning," he without much difficulty or pain extracted the ball, then lying but skin deep. However, as by this alteration of our intentions we probably missed a long lecture on the impropriety and immorality of duelling in general, and mine in particular, I was not sorry for the change of doctors which had unavoidably taken place, excepting for the sake of Agnes, who had great faith in the old man through his gentleness of manner and pardonable female prejudice to believe in his skill.

The next difficulty which arose to the minds of Jemmy and myself, who were now like brothers, and consulted each other upon all subjects, was the breaking the accident to my delicate young bride; nevertheless, as we agreed that we had seen her on previous occasions display sufficient signs of considerable courage to trust to her sense upon the present emergency, we were not long in deciding that we had best proceed without delay to explain to her the trifling consequences, of the "force of the Captain's arguments."

All three of us, that is Wadham, the military Esculapius, and your humble servant, immediately, "fell in and took single files," and commenced our silent tip-toes upstairs march, so as to take the fortress by surprise. I having had my coat and waistcoat removed in order to give free scope to the flourishes of the operator, had thrown loosely over my shoulders the identical cloak, the property of my sister, which I had taken from the hall on leaving, and which had proved so warm a friend the greater part of the long, cold, dreary down journey. This I had done as a precaution against too suddenly alarming our delicate patient upon our first entrance into the sick chamber. Arriving at the landing-place of the best bed-rooms, I advanced boldly and knocked moderately but firmly at the door, our two friends remaining as if they were in ambush at hand, ready prepared to enter the citadel, which contained my heart of hearts.

It was quickly opened by the landlady, who had generally devoted

N

the greater part of both the day and night in nursing and watching her interesting and grateful young patient. Beckoning the old lady towards us, we were soon delighted to hear that there had been an immense change for the better in her: she was much improved, and that most likely she would get up for a short time, and sit in her easy-chair by the fire. A council of war was next held, and the hostess, who was by right of command and experience a valuable member of the staff, pressed as to her opinion concerning the intended invasion and its probable results.

After fully discussing the most material points of danger, the plan of attack as originally arranged was decided should be carried out without further hesitation. This being unanimously adopted, I almost unperceived, followed in the good nurse. It happening curiously enough to have been my left arm, and consequently the one furthest from my antagonist that received his fire, I stood with my right towards Agnes' side. Taking her hand in mine, I expressed my great delight at finding her so much better.

I am indeed, Guy dear," she softly but gaily answered, "and shall soon be about again, thanks to this kind lady, but," she added, looking at me steadfastly, "surely you are very pale to-day."

"Oh! do you think so," I said with forced indifference, which the intense pain I was just then suffering almost unveiled; "but there is Jemmy," I continued "just outside and a medical friend whom I should much like to see you. Can they come in ?"

"Yes, my dear, certainly," she replied with a smile, although I saw clearly enough that she was anxious on my account. "You know & little change of conversation will enliven me now."

Glad of the opportunity of bringing in my allies to the rescue, I made my escape with considerable caution, and signalled them in. They were parading up and down the landing like two true and honest sentinels.

After the usual salutations had passed on all sides, Jemmy, who had on other occasions through his extreme intimacy with us in my company visited the chamber, withdrew partially from the bed-side, the better to allow the professional dialogue which ensued to take its own serious uninterrupted course.

"Permit me, madam," commenced the medico, with that modest air of solicitation which is observable in most well-trained doctors, "permit me to feel your pulse:" at the same time holding out his hand to receive hers, with the two indicating fingers extended, preparing likewise to draw out his watch with the other. This delicate operation was soon satisfactorily concluded, and both parties were evidently pleased with the result, for said the doctor, "I think my dear young lady, you will be quite restored and convalescent in a few days, especially should we have a thaw, which is not at all improbable."

This professional flirtation was soon, however, brought to a stand-still, and Agues, who had not observed that I had hid behind the bed-curtains in order to screen my tortures, which had commenced to set in in earnest, continued—

"I should be much obliged, doctor, if you would now give an eye to my naughty husband, for truly I find him looking very very ill to-day. Here, Guy dear, step forward: why where have you got to?"

Now, thought I, out comes the murder-or what might have been so of the morning. Nodding and winking to Jemmy, who stood facing me, "Yes, now for a scene," I mentally ejaculated, as I obeyed her commands, and came to the foreground. The doctor, like a good tactician, took up the cue with admirable military address, and quickly answered"Oh! I have already had a long talk with him, and assure you that his accident is a mere trifle, a nothing to think twice about, if he is only careful."

Poor Agnes's countenance during this well-timed explanation, had been undergoing all the most inconceivable and painful extortions that were ever expressed on the face of man or woman. Her eyes were wildly searching the hearts of first the doctor, then myself, and then Jemmy Wadham's and the old landlady's, each came in for a share of her severe and almost irresistible scrutiny. At last, with a kind of hysteric convulsion she gulped out,

"Good God! what accident? where is he hurt? Oh, doctor, for goodness sake do tell me what you mean. I am sure he is going to die !"

"I beseech you, my good lady," he kindly answered, taking her hand in his, " for your own sake and Mr. May's pray calm yourself; I pledge you on my professional reputation that there is nothing the matter but what can easily be set right again in a few days."

"But what is it? and how did it happen?" she nervously asked. "Why you see," he continued, "love is like a tree which bears two kinds of fruit-the one a bitter, and on the other side a sweet one. In every affaire du cœur,' there is sure to arise drawbacks-they must be looked upon as the bitters. This once got over, the sweets are sure to follow, as the reward of patience, courage and true love. Now," he continued, with a good-natured and victorious smile on his face, "if two gallants will attempt to pluck the same fruit from off this forbidden tree of life and love, one or other, or both must suffer for their boldness. In this case, as I understand it in my diagnosis, the greater share of the unpalatable consequences of seeking to rob this orchard of its sweetest fruit, has fallen to the lot of the departed hero: who returns from his adventure filled with all the bitter pangs of disappointment, everlasting ridicule, and a petty unsatiated revenge, whilst your husband remains to enjoy his well merited victory and its sweet fruits, with the slight drawbacks only of a superficial wound in his arm and a few days in a bed of roses.'

Agnes features had been gradually assuming a more satisfied expression, and as the doctor finished his harangue she looked decidedly more herself, and happiness once more beamed throughout her coun

tenance.

"The long and the short of it all is," she said, addressing myself and Wadham," you have had a duel with the Captain !"

"Yes dear," I cooly answered," that is all."

"But good gracious, Guy," she firmly continued, evidently inclined to satisfy her natural female curiosity, and enter into the particulars. "How came you to let the villain hit you? and did he get off unhurt? Oh, how I do wish you had shot him!"

This last exclamation settled the question; it came from the heart, and was the true outpourings of that deep-seated, dire, and invincible

foe"

a woman's revenge." Thus all difficulties as to the duel were now at an end; the delicate point of accounting for the wound satisfactorily accomplished, and all of us once more as it were placed on good terms with ourselves.

The Doctor and Wadham shortly after this agreeable termination to what at first had threatened to have been a very painful interview, retired to enjoy their friendly "tiffin;" whilst I strictly forbidden to indulge in the luxuries below, remained to gratify Agnes and the landlady with further particulars of the "meeting" in the morning, and to answer those inquisitive female interrogatories by which the details of life and society are so ably and clearly extracted and laid bare.

The days of my imprisonment were the most painful of my life. Fever of any kind is dilatory enough, and generally attended with more or less delirium, maddening visions, and disagreeable dreams; but that peculiar one which always accompanies a gun-shot wound is, unlike other descriptions of that disease, unrelievable, and defies being hurried in its progress, or brought to a conclusion before its time. During its tenure of me, the faithful Jemmy was constantly at my bed-side, and administered to me every possible consolation and comfort. It appeared to me to be an age, and every hour that I lay there only filled me with impatience, and delayed my recovery. I longed to be up and doing; but I had neither philosophy or self-control enough to assist myself and friends in their affectionate and kind endeavours to aid me in conquering the enemy. Almost immediately that this relentless foe left me I became calm, and my true faculties returned to me cooled, though weakened by the attack. However I had instantly the inexpressible satisfaction of perceiving that my invalid bride was almost herself again, and that although unable to display towards me those tender acts of nursing, which her heart inclined her to, that she had watched over me with an anxiety and affection which betoken the sincerest attachment. My recovery was almost magical; day by day I gained in strength, my health improved by the abstinence I had undergone, and my passion for Agnes increased tenfold. The wound in my arm healed with the first intention, and we all once more descended to our sitting rooms, weak but well. A day or two previously to this I had received letters from home, from Mr. Nosyde and my really true friend, the open-hearted Bob Layhard. The first ones expressed merely the usual cold fal-lal in set phrases of anxiety for my welfare, feared I had got into a terrible scrape, blamed Mr. Layhard for lending me the money, ending the proscript, by "begging me to take care of, and return the cloak I had so shamefully taken. My father had not written, perhaps in his case prudence, or legal advice had checked his pen. Mr. Nosyde's was strong and to the purpose; he supposed I was aware of the consequences of the step I had so imprudently taken. That I must immediately communicate with him the probable time of my return, and that at my father's request he had consented to assist me as far as lay in his power, and act as my trustee." All which I looked upon as a matter of course, well knowing that the lawyers were sure to get a picking out of a refractory ward in Chancery, and a glaring contempt of court. Mr. Layhard, however, fully made up for all this worldly and chilling selfishness. It warmed the hearts of all, as I read it aloud to Agnes and Jemmy; therefore, readers, I will give you a