"As to staying all night, Captain," said the physician, with an air, "I can't say. Must look to my patients in the village----but will stay to tea with great pleasure. Jingleum, hold the basin!" The practitioner removed the bandage from the vein he had before opened, and (the Captain, in the meanwhile, hobbling out to inquire into the condition of Catherine,) had soon the pleasure of seeing his patient recover his wits so far as to be able to answer questions, though he displayed a much greater inclination to ask them. His first demand was, "What's the matter? what ails my head, and my arm? and who are you all here about me?--Oh! ay!" he continued, "I remember--that confounded brook! I vow to Heaven, I thought I saw a ghost, though 'twas broad daylight! Heavens! how my shoulder aches, and my arm, how it twinges! Are you a doctor? Where's Elsie?" "Well, now, I warrant me, doctor," whispered Aunt Rachel, "he begins to wander." "My dear sir," said the physician, "I must beg you to hold your tongue. Take this cooling draught, and go to sleep; and, for your comfort, know that you are now in much better quarters than you could have had at old witch Elsie's. You are now in Captain Loring's house." "In Captain Loring's! What, Avondale? Gilbert's Folly," cried the painter, starting up. "Be quiet, sir," cried Merribody. "Lie down, and keep yourself quiet; or I won't insure your life two hours." "Nonsense, sir," cried the patient, petulantly. "I will dress, and get me to the Rest forthwith; and I warn you to take your hand from my shoulder; for, besides that, you hurt me insufferably, I don't choose to be treated like a prisoner of war, nor to be quartered on strangers." "I warn you," cried the physician.----"There! was there ever such a dolt?--Hartshorn, Jingleum!" The painter's resolution was greater than his ability. His struggle to arise upset the little strength he had remaining, and he fell back almost immediately in a swoon. When recovered again from this, he seemed sufficiently sensible of his impotent and helpless condition; but was still reluctant to remain where he was. He conjured the doctor to have him carried in a coach, an arm-chair, a cart,--in any thing,--but certainly to have him carried to the widow's hovel. Then, discovering the physician to be inflexible, he lowered his tone, consented to remain in the Captain's house, but implored so earnestly that he should send immediately for old Elsie to nurse him, that the doctor's heart was moved, and he condescended to argue the matter: