her night-cap on her head, just
risen from her slumbers. The young lord was quickly undressed, when, on
his arm being examined, Mrs Cross declared it as her opinion that no
bone was broken; and all that was required were fomentations and rest.

"I am sorry to hear so bad a character of young Hargrave. His mother
and blind sister are at all events good people, and it will grieve them
sorely," observed Lady Elverston to her husband, who answered only with
the significant exclamation of--

"Humph! Perhaps so."

The pain was somewhat relieved by the fomentations applied by the
housekeeper, who offered to sit up with the young lord; and though he
declared that he should do very well without assistance, he was glad at
length to accept her offer.

Voules came in just before going to bed, to express his deep concern.

"I shall do very well in a day or two," said Lord Reginald, "and it
won't prevent me from joining my ship."

Notwithstanding his assertion, he was very feverish during the night,
when he was constantly uttering expressions which showed the animosity
he felt against Dick Hargrave, complaining that he was the cause of the
pain he was enduring. This was reported the next morning by Mrs Cross
to the marchioness.

"It is a shame, my lady, that so bad a lad should be allowed to be at
large. I hope my lord will have him taken up and sent off to Botany
Bay, or anywhere out of the way, for if he meets Lord Reginald again, I
don't know what will come of it."

Next morning the doctor, who had been sent for, arrived, and greatly
relieved the minds of Lord and Lady Elverston by assuring them that
their son's arm was not broken.

"No thanks to the young ruffian who inflicted the blow," observed the
marquis; "we must have him apprehended, for such an outrage must not be
allowed to go unpunished."

The doctor directed Lord Reginald's arm to be fomented, and observed
that he must carry it for a few days in a sling, assuring him that he
need not fear any serious consequences.

"Then it will not prevent him from joining his ship?" observed the
marquis, who had his reasons for wishing that the midshipmen should not
remain longer at Elverston.

"Not if he can perform his duty without going aloft, or using his arm
for the present," replied the doctor.

Lord Elverston said he would write to the captain on the subject.

"In that case his lordship may join his ship immediately," observed the
doctor, who seemed to un