falling asleep, to ask me if I
would sell my horse.'

The old man smiled. 'He has but one failing,' said he, 'an itch for
horse-dealing; but for that he might be a much richer man than he is; he
is continually buying and exchanging horses, and generally finds himself
a loser by his bargains: but he is a worthy creature, and skilful in his
profession--it is well for you that you are under his care.'

The old man then left me, and in about an hour returned with the surgeon,
who examined me and reported favourably as to my case. He spoke to me
with kindness and feeling, and did not introduce the subject of the
horse. I asked him whether he thought I should be in time for the fair.
'I saw some people making their way thither to-day,' said he; 'the fair
lasts three weeks, and it has just commenced. Yes, I think I may promise
you that you will be in time for the very heat of it. In a few days you
will be able to mount your saddle with your arm in a sling, but you must
by no means appear with your arm in a sling at Horncastle, as people
would think your horse had flung you, and that you wanted to dispose of
him because he was a vicious brute. You must, by all means, drop the
sling before you get to Horncastle.'

For three days I kept my apartment by the advice of the surgeon. I
passed my time as I best could. Stretched on my bed, I either abandoned
myself to reflection, or listened to the voices of the birds in the
neighbouring garden. Sometimes, as I lay awake at night, I would
endeavour to catch the tick of a clock, which methought sounded from some
distant part of the house.

The old man visited me twice or thrice every day to inquire into my
state. His words were few on these occasions, and he did not stay long.
Yet his voice and his words were kind. What surprised me most in
connection with this individual was, the delicacy of conduct which he
exhibited in not letting a word proceed from his lips which could testify
curiosity respecting who I was, or whence I came. All he knew of me was,
that I had been flung from my horse on my way to a fair for the purpose
of disposing of the animal; and that I was now his guest. I might be a
common horse-dealer for what he knew, yet I was treated by him with all
the attention which I could have expected had I been an alderman of
Boston's heir, and known to him as such. The county in which I am now,
thought I at last, must be either extraordinarily devoted to hospitali