he Hall.

Before the surgeon had arrived, I had recovered my senses. On
examination, I had had a very narrow escape; the better part of the
charge of shot had entered the back part of my head, but fortunately not
any had penetrated through the skull. After a tedious hour, employed in
extracting this load, my head was bound up, and I was made comfortable
in my bed. I must say that Lord de Versely and Colonel Delmar vied with
each other in their attentions to me; the latter constantly accusing
himself as the author of the mischief, and watching by my bed the major
part of the day.

This accident delayed my departure, and it was not until three weeks
afterwards, that I was sufficiently recovered to leave my room. In the
meantime, Lord de Versely, assured that I was out of danger, went back
to London. The colonel, however, remained. His kindness and attention
had given me great pleasure, and we had become very intimate. He had
offered to go with me to Portsmouth, and I had expressed the pleasure I
should have in his company. The Honourable Miss Delmar had shown the
greatest feeling and anxiety for me during my illness; so had Mr
Warden, who often called to see me; in fact, I found myself so
surrounded by well-wishers and friends, that I hardly regretted my
accident.

At the end of the fifth week, I was sufficiently recovered to be able to
return to Portsmouth, where I was now very anxious to arrive, as the
Circe had been launched and had already received her lower masts. I
took my leave of Miss Delmar, who requested my early return to Madeline
Hall, and, accompanied by Colonel Delmar, was once more established at
Billett's Hotel.

Bob Cross was the first who made his appearance; for I had written to
him to acquaint him with my intended return. He had heard of my narrow
escape, as it had been put into the newspaper; his information was
trifling, but to the purpose. All was right as to the frigate: she sat
on the water like a duck; the rigging was far advanced, and the officers
seemed of the right sort. All was right, also, as to his matrimonial
affairs; his wife was every thing he wished; the old gentleman was as
sweet as molasses, and he had laid the keel of a young Cross. We then
entered upon business, and I gave him some directions as to the rigging,
and he left me.

The next morning, the first lieutenant called to pay his respects, and
his appearance and conversation proved him to be what he had been