t, he so far believed it true that he wrote more
than one letter to Lord Castlereagh to assure him that I was rapidly
recovering, and would be delighted to receive him; which, whether from a
knowledge of the captain's character, or his indifference as to my fate,
the Secretary certainly never took any notice of whatever.

Bubbleton had too much experience of similar instances of neglect to
be either afflicted or offended at this silence; on the contrary, he
satisfied his mind by an excuse of his own inventing, and went about
saying, "I think we 'll have Castlereagh down to-day to see Burke,"
until it became a cant on parade and a jest at mess.

Meanwhile his active mind was not lying dormant. Indignant that
no inquiries had been made after me, and astonished that no
aide-de-camp--not even a liveried menial of the Viceroy's household--had
come down to receive the daily bulletin of my health, and somewhat
piqued, perhaps, that his own important services regarding me remained
unacknowledged, he set about springing a mine for himself which very
nearly became my ruin.

After about ten days spent by me in this state of painful vacillation,
my mind vibrating between two opposite courses, and seeing arguments
for either, both in the matter-of-fact shortness of Miss Bubbleton's not
over-courteous manner, and the splendidly liberal and vast conceptions
of her brother, I went to my bed one night resolved that on the very
next morning I would hesitate no longer; and as my strength would now
permit of my being able to walk unassisted, I would explain freely to
Bubbleton every circumstance of my life, and take my leave of him, to
wander, I knew not where. This decision at length being come to, I slept
more soundly than I had slept for many nights, nor awoke until the
loud step and the louder voice of the captain had aroused me from my
slumbers.

"Eh, Tom! a good night, my lad? How soundly you sleep! Just like the
Lachigong Indians; they go to bed after the hunting season, and never
wake till the bears come in next fall. I had the knack myself once; but
then I always took six or seven dozen of strong Burton ale first; and
that, they said, was n't quite fair. But for a white man, I 'd back
myself for a thousand to-morrow. But what 's this I have to tell you?
Something or other was in my head for you. Oh, I have it! I say, Tom,
old fellow, I think I have touched them up to some purpose. They did
n't expect it. No, hang it! they litt