"What is this?" he said, quickly, but not in an ungentle tone. "Where is the lady hurt?--Bring me linen and water.--You may give her a little wine too.--She is faint from loss of blood;" and advancing to the bedside, he took Caroline's hand kindly in his own, saying, "Do not be alarmed, my dear. These things happen every day in battle; and women get well better than soldiers, for they are more patient and resigned. I see where the wound is. Do not be afraid;" and he put his hand upon her shoulder, running it round on both sides. The moment he had done so, he looked about him with a bright and beaming smile upon his lip, and the colour coming somewhat up into his cheek. "She will do well," he said--"let no one alarm themselves: the ball has passed upon the right of the artery, and I feel it just above the scapula. She will do well!" An audible "Thank God!" burst from every lip around; and Caroline herself, at the sudden change, from the apprehension of death to the hope of life, burst into silent tears. "What are all these men doing here?" demanded the good surgeon, turning bluffly round. "Leave none but the women with me, and not too many of them." The sailors began to move away at this command, and Wilton followed; but Lord Sherbrooke kept his place, saying, "I must remain!" "And why should you remain, sir?" demanded the surgeon. "Who are you?" "I am her husband, sir," replied Lord Sherbrooke, firmly and distinctly. "Oh, sir, that makes a very great difference," replied the surgeon. "I make you a very low bow, and have nothing to say; only I hope you will behave quietly and rationally, and talk as little as possible." "I will do everything, sir," replied Lord Sherbrooke, with a somewhat stately look--"I will do everything that may tend to promote the recovery of one I love so well." At this moment, Wilton was in the doorway: but the Lady Helen laid her hand upon his arm, saying, "Wait for me in the neighbouring room, Wilton. I must speak with you before you go." Wilton promised to remain, and quitted the chamber. He found at the top of the stairs the greater part of the sailors whom he had seen before, and with them Plessis himself and another man. The sailors were talking with Plessis vehemently; and Wilton soon found that the worthy Frenchman was using all his powers of vituperation in various tongues--French and English, with a word or two of Dutch every now and then, and some quaint specimens of Portuguese--to express his indignation at the sailors for the unlucky business in which they had engaged. The master of the vessel was defending himself stoutly, saying, "Why, didn't I meet the boy from the Blackamoor's Head at the very door of the place here? and didn't he tell me that there was a man coming down with a Messenger of State to seize the ship and the cargo, and you, and I, and every one else?"