Where is he ?" "He'll be here presently," she replied; "he has been very anxious about you, and has sat up every night with you." "I'm very sorry," I said; but then, feeling about my face and head with the solitary hand I was now only able to move, I noticed something strange.

"Why, hullo, mother!" I cried out, "what is the matter with the top of my head--where is my hair gone?
All seems so smooth!" She couldn't help laughing--I suppose it was at my comical look of mingled astonishment and perplexity.
"It had to be shaved off when you were delirious, Tom," she said with a smile; "you feel funny without it, no doubt, but it will soon grow again, my boy." "Oh dear, oh dear!" I exclaimed lugubriously; "I suppose I will be bald and have to wear a wig, like old Mr Bunting! My arm, too, mother, hurts awfully! and I can't move it at all." "Never mind, Tom, it might have been worse, you know," she said in her quiet soothing way.

"You ought to thank God for sparing your life, instead of grumbling at what your own recklessness has produced.
However, my dear boy, you'll soon pull round and be yourself again if you will only keep quiet and obey all the doctor's directions." "But, mother, it's a terrible task for me to keep quiet," I cried in such a serious manner that I made her laugh again.
"No doubt it is," she said, "but you must learn to do it if you wish to get well again; and, Tom, I can't help reminding you that your being laid up now has greatly interfered with our plans.

Your father wished to have sold the estate, and for us all to go home to England.

Indeed, but for your accident we would have gone by the last packet." This was news with a vengeance! It almost made me jump out of bed, crippled as I was, and my mother had to put her hand on my shoulder to restrain me.
"What! sell Mount Pleasant ?" I ejaculated.
"Yes," she replied.
"And all of us go home together, instead of my being sent to England alone to school ?" I continued.
"That was what your father thought of," said my mother in answer to this question of mine; "but your illness has made him alter his mind somewhat, as you will learn when you are able to get up and move about.
You must now, dear, remain quiet, and not excite yourself; otherwise, your recovery will be retarded and that will worry your father more." "All right, mother, I promise to be good," I said resolutely, nestling down amongst the pillows which had been comfortably fixed around me, and trying to be as still as a mouse.