“Not this fortnight,” says the Doctor, “nay, not this three weeks. This morning now he tried to alter the position of his leg, but it was so stiff and gave the poor man such an excruciating pain that he desisted the instant he began.”
“I was trusting, Doctor,” I replied, “that the Captain would have his heels up for at least a month. A man of his activity would benefit by rest.”
“Well, my dear lady, let us think about it,” says the Doctor.
“And I believe, sir,” says I, insinuatingly, “that you had better stay to dinner while you do.”
I never remember a day that took longer to consume the sun’s light, or a night more tardy to arrive. At five p.m. the Captain scrawled the information: “In an hour, madam, unless a particular circumstance prevents it, my report must be dispatched.” And I was grateful to the Captain’s air of mystery for causing me to laugh so. “Unless a particular circumstance prevents it.” A little after six Emblem bore me the news that the Corporal was mounted and away. As Goodman was to bring me the result as soon as one had been arrived at, I awaited him in privacy, and was so nervous and excited, too, that I preferred to have my supper served there, instead of wearing the mask of my habitual indifference, and sitting down with the family as usual.
Seven struck, but no Goodman came. A quarter past, and I began to speculate upon miscarriages. But presently, to my relief, I caught the sound of heavy boots ascending, and on his knock I invited Goodman to come in.
“Well?” says I.
“Under lock and key, your ladyship,” says Goodman. “’A kicked a bit, ’a swore a bit, when we took him from behind; but we dropped him in, and slipped the bolt and turned the key; his ’oss has been taken to the farm, and I left John, my son, a sittin’ afore the cellar door a readin’ in The Courier.”
“No unnecessary violence, I hope,” says I.
“Not a bit, my lady. But it’s a mercy that there weren’t. He turned rampageous like; but John, my son, had got him by the muffler, and my knee was a kneelin’ in the middle of his shirt. We dropped him in the hole, simple an’ easy as a child. He might ’a fell upon his nose, but I judge from the crackin’ sort o’ sound he made that it liker was his head. But he’ll take no hurt, my lady; no, not he, for that Corp’ral’s the toughest tooth that ever chewed up bull-beef.”