on 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. "When do you think
I may venture?" I replied. "I think, if you are a tolerably good
horseman, you may mount the day after to-morrow," answered the medical
man. "By-the-bye, are you acquainted with anybody at Horncastle?" "With
no living soul," I answered. "Then you would scarcely find stable-room
for your horse. But I am happy to be able to assist you. I have a
friend there who keeps a small inn, and who, during the time of the fair,
keeps a stall vacant for any quadruped I may bring, until he knows
whether I am coming or not. I will give you a letter to him, and he will
see after the accommodation of your horse. To-morrow I will pay you a
farewell visit, and bring you the letter." "Thank you," said I; "and do
not forget to bring your bill." The surgeon looked at the old man, who
gave him a peculiar nod. "Oh!" said he, in reply to me, "for the little
service I have rendered you, I require no remuneration. You are in my
friend's house, and he and I understand each other." "I never receive
such favours," said I, "as you have rendered me, without remunerating
them; therefore I shall expect your bill." "Oh! just as you please,"
said the surgeon; and shaking me by the hand more warmly than he had
hitherto done, he took his leave.

On the evening of the next day, the last which I spent with my kind
entertainer, I sat at tea with him in a little summer-house in his
garden, partially shaded by the boughs of a large fig-tree. The surgeon
had shortly before paid me his farewell visit, and had brought me the
letter of introduction to his friend at Horncastle, and also his bill,
which I found anything but extravagant. After we had each respectively
drank the contents of two cups--and it may not be amiss here to inform
the reader that though I took cream with my tea, as I always do when I
can procure that addition, the old man, like most people bred up in the
country, drank his without it--he thus addressed me:--"I am, as I told
you on the night of your