"

They argued with him until his growing deafness rendered argument
useless. A certain love of change and excitement would not be denied.
Captain Sellers, attended by his faithful housekeeper, slept that night
at No. 5, and awoke next morning to find his prognostications as to his
condition fully confirmed.

"I'm aching all over," he said to Mrs. Willett. "I can't bear to be
touched."

"You'll have to be moved to your own house," said Mrs. Chinnery, who had
come in at Mrs. Willett's request to see what could be done. "We expect
my brother home in a day or two."

"Let him come," said the captain, feebly. "I sha'n't bite him."

"But you're in his bed," said Mrs. Chinnery.

"Eh?"

"In his bed," screamed Mrs. Chinnery.

"I sha'n't bite him," repeated the captain.

"But he can't sleep with you," said Mrs. Chinnery, red with loud
speaking.

"I don't want him to," said Captain Sellers. "I've got nothing against
him, and, in a general way of speaking, I'm not what could be called a
particular man--but I draw the line."

Mrs. Chinnery went downstairs hastily and held a council of war with
Mrs. Willett and Martha. It was decided to wait for the doctor, but the
latter, when he came, could give no assistance.

"He's very sore and stiff," he said, thoughtfully, "but it's nothing
serious. It's more vanity than anything else; he likes being made a fuss
of and being a centre of attraction. He's as tough as leather, and the
most difficult old man I have ever encountered."

"Is he quite right in his head?" demanded Mrs. Chinnery, hotly.

The doctor pondered. "He's a little bit childish, but his head will
give more trouble to other people than to himself," he said at last. "Be
as patient with him as you can, and if you can once persuade him to get
up, perhaps he will consent to be moved."

Mrs. Chinnery, despite a naturally hot temper, did her best, but in
vain. Mrs. Willett was promptly denounced as a "murderess," and the
captain, holding forth to one or two callers, was moved almost to tears
as he reflected upon the ingratitude and hardness of woman. An account
of the accident in the _Salthaven Gazette_, which described him as
"lying at death's door," was not without its effect in confining him to
Mr. Truefitt's bed.

The latter gentleman and his wife, in blissful ignorance of the
accident, returned home on the following evening. Mrs. Willett and Mrs.
Chinnery, apprised by letter, were both there to receive them, a