"It wasn't his fault, mother," I interposed at this point. Really, I
was not going to let poor Jake be blamed for my obstinacy! "I made
Prince gallop into the town as hard as I could, in spite of all he could
say, for I was anxious to get down to the wharf before the passengers
had landed from the steamer. I wished to be the first to meet dad."

"And you've found out now, Tom, the truth of the old proverb, `more
haste, worse speed,' eh, my dear?"

"Yes, mother," I said with a laugh, "I never got there at all. But, dad
came all right, for I saw him, you know. Where is he?"

"He'll be here presently," she replied; "he has been very anxious about
you, and has sat up every night with you."

"I'm very sorry," I said; but then, feeling about my face and head with
the solitary hand I was now only able to move, I noticed something
strange. "Why, hullo, mother!" I cried out, "what is the matter with
the top of my head--where is my hair gone? All seems so smooth!"

She couldn't help laughing--I suppose it was at my comical look of
mingled astonishment and perplexity.

"It had to be shaved off when you were delirious, Tom," she said with a
smile; "you feel funny without it, no doubt, but it will soon grow
again, my boy."

"Oh dear, oh dear!" I exclaimed lugubriously; "I suppose I will be bald
and have to wear a wig, like old Mr Bunting! My arm, too, mother,
hurts awfully! and I can't move it at all."

"Never mind, Tom, it might have been worse, you know," she said in her
quiet soothing way. "You ought to thank God for sparing your life,
instead of grumbling at what your own recklessness has produced.
However, my dear boy, you'll soon pull round and be yourself again if
you will only keep quiet and obey all the doctor's directions."

"But, mother, it's a terrible task for me to keep quiet," I cried in
such a serious manner that I made her laugh again.

"No doubt it is," she said, "but you must learn to do it if you wish to
get well again; and, Tom, I can't help reminding you that your being
laid up now has greatly interfered with our plans. Your father wished
to have sold the estate, and for us all to go home to England. Indeed,
but for your accident we would have gone by the last packet."

This was news with a vengeance! It almost made me jump out of bed,
crippled as I was, and my mother had to put her hand on my shoulder to
restrain me.

"What! sell Mount Pleasant?" I ejaculated.

"Yes," she replied