played to advantage the whole of his comely
figure.

But, alas! its comeliness was destined for a time to be destroyed.
Mr. Webb's fire passed directly under the tails of his coat; the ball
just traversed along his trousers about a foot beneath the waistband,
cutting them and his drawers and shirt, as it were, with a knife, and
wounding the flesh in its course to the depth of perhaps the eighth
part of an inch. Directly Major Longsword perceived that his man was
hit, he vociferously called for Blake.

From the position which Mr. Brown assumed on receiving the fire, it
was the general opinion of all the party that he was not mortally
wounded. Blake was immediately on the spot, and lost no time in
supporting him.

"Where is it, Mr. Brown, where is it? Can you stand? Can you walk?
Allow me to support you to the bank. You can get a seat there; we
must sit down at once. My dear sir, the first thing is to get you to
a comfortable seat."

"Comfortable seat, and be d----d to you!" was the patient's uncivil
reply. "Go to hell, I tell, you!" as Blake continued to lift him.
"I'm well enough; I can walk to the carriage!"

"My dear sir," continued the doctor, "the ball must be in your side;
at any rate allow me to discover where it is."

"Ball be d----d, I tell you!" and he hobbled a little way off from
his tormentor; the portion of his trousers on the part affected
annoyed him sorely when he attempted to walk.

"Permit me to hope," said the Counsellor, coming up--"permit me
to hope, now that this affair seems to be over, that you are not
seriously hurt. Had you not better allow Doctor Blake to ascertain
whether the bullet still remains in you? had you not better sit
down?"

"Bother Doctor Blake, sir," said Mr. Brown, with his hands still
under his coat tails.

"Ah! I see now," said the Doctor, stooping down; "I see the wound,
I think. It's bleeding now--and I think I may guarantee that there's
no danger; allow me one minute, for the ball may be lodged," and he
proceeded to lift up the tails of the coat.

"Doctor Blake, if you touch me again, by heavens I'll kick you! when
I want you, I'll send for you. Major Longsword, will you do me the
honour to accompany me to my carriage--ugh, d----n it!"

This last exclamation was occasioned by his renewed attempt to walk.
He managed, however, at last, to get to his carriage, and in that to
Brown Hall. Major Longsword, who accompanied him, declared afterwards
to his brother off