“I’m aching all over,” he said to Mrs. Willett. “I can’t bear to be touched.” “You’ll have to be moved to your own house,” said Mrs. Chinnery, who had come in at Mrs. Willett’s request to see what could be done. “We expect my brother home in a day or two.” “Let him come,” said the captain, feebly. “I sha’n’t bite him.” “But you’re in his bed,” said Mrs. Chinnery. “Eh?” “In his bed,” screamed Mrs. Chinnery. “I sha’n’t bite him,” repeated the captain. “But he can’t sleep with you,” said Mrs. Chinnery, red with loud speaking. “I don’t want him to,” said Captain Sellers. “I’ve got nothing against him, and, in a general way of speaking, I’m not what could be called a particular man—but I draw the line.” Mrs. Chinnery went downstairs hastily and held a council of war with Mrs. Willett and Martha. It was decided to wait for the doctor, but the latter, when he came, could give no assistance. “He’s very sore and stiff,” he said, thoughtfully, “but it’s nothing serious. It’s more vanity than anything else; he likes being made a fuss of and being a centre of attraction. He’s as tough as leather, and the most difficult old man I have ever encountered.” “Is he quite right in his head?” demanded Mrs. Chinnery, hotly. The doctor pondered. “He’s a little bit childish, but his head will give more trouble to other people than to himself,” he said at last. “Be as patient with him as you can, and if you can once persuade him to get up, perhaps he will consent to be moved.” Mrs. Chinnery, despite a naturally hot temper, did her best, but in vain. Mrs. Willett was promptly denounced as a “murderess,” and the captain, holding forth to one or two callers, was moved almost to tears as he reflected upon the ingratitude and hardness of woman. An account of the accident in the _Salthaven Gazette_, which described him as “lying at death’s door,” was not without its effect in confining him to Mr. Truefitt’s bed. The latter gentleman and his wife, in blissful ignorance of the accident, returned home on the following evening. Mrs. Willett and Mrs. Chinnery, apprised by letter, were both there to receive them, and the former, after keeping up appearances in a stately fashion for a few minutes, was finally persuaded to relent and forgive them both. After which, Mrs. Truefitt was about to proceed upstairs to take off her things, when she was stopped by Mrs. Chinnery. “There—there is somebody in your room,” said the latter. “In my room?” said Mrs. Truefitt, in a startled voice. “We couldn’t write to you,” said Mrs. Willett, with a little shade of reproach in her voice, “because you didn’t give us your address. Captain Sellers had an accident and is in your bed.” “_Who_?” said the astounded Mr. Truefitt. “_What_!” Mrs. Willett, helped by Mrs. Chinnery, explained the affair to him; Mr. Truefitt, with the exception of a few startled ejaculations, listened in sombre silence.