“Stand out of the way, for God’s sake, my good woman, or I shall certainly ride over you. So! so! so!” said I, patting my restless horse. “Oh! he’s only shy, God bless him! he’s as _quite_ now as a lamb; and kiss one or other of _yees_, I must,” cried she, throwing her arms about the horse’s neck. The horse, unaccustomed to this mode of salutation, suddenly plunged, and threw me. My head fell against the pier of the gate. The last sound I heard was the report of a pistol; but I can give no account of what happened afterwards. I was stunned by my fall, and senseless. When I opened my eyes, I found myself stretched on one of the cushions of my landau, and surrounded by a crowd of people, who seemed to be all talking at once: in the buzz of voices I could not distinguish any thing that was said, till I heard Captain Crawley’s voice above the rest, saying, “Send for a surgeon instantly: but it’s all over! it’s all over! Take the body the back way to the banqueting-house; I must run to Lady Glenthorn.” I perceived that they thought me dead. I did not at this moment feel that I was hurt. I was curious to know what they would all do; so I closed my eyes again before any one perceived that I had opened them. I lay motionless, and they proceeded with me, according to Captain Crawley’s orders, to the banqueting-house. When we arrived there, my servants laid me on one of the Turkish sofas; and the crowd, after having satisfied their’ curiosity, dropped off one by one, till I was left with a single footman and my steward. “I don’t believe he’s quite dead,” said the footman, “for his heart beats.” “Oh, he’s the same as dead, for he does not stir hand or foot, and his skull, they say, is fractured for certain; but it will all be seen when the surgeon comes. I am sure he will never do. Crawley will have every thing his own way now, and I may as well decamp.” “Ay; and among them,” said the footman, “I only hope I may get my wages.” “What a fool that Crawley made of my lord!” said the steward. “What a fool my lord made of himself,” said the footman, “to be ruled, and let all his people be ruled, by such an upstart! With your leave, Mr. Turner, I’ll just run to the house to say one word to James, and be back immediately.” “No, no, you must stay, Robert, whilst I step home to lock my places, before Crawley begins to rummage.” The footman was now left alone with me. Scarcely had the steward been gone two minutes, when I heard a low voice near me saying, in a tone of great anxiety, “Is he dead?” I half opened my eyes to see who it was that spoke. The voice came from the door which was opposite to me; and whilst the footman turned his back, I raised my head, and beheld the figure of the old woman, who had been the cause of my accident. She was upon her knees on the threshold--her arms crossed over her breast. I never shall forget her face, it was so expressive of despair. “Is he dead?” she repeated. “I tell you yes,” replied the footman.