I will tell you my own history; it is brief, but may perhaps not prove uninteresting to you--though the relation of it will give me some pain." "Pray, then, do not recite it," said I.

"Yes," said the old man, "I will tell you, for I wish you to know it." He was about to begin, when he was interrupted by the arrival of the surgeon.

The surgeon examined into the state of my bruised limb, and told me, what indeed I already well knew, that it was rapidly improving.

"You will not even require a sling," said he, "to ride to Horncastle.

When do you propose going ?" he demanded.