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hope the inflammation will have subsided； and I can then see
about the ball。 It evidently is somewhere there still； for there is no
sign of its having made its exit anywhere。 In the meantime you
must give him two tablespoonfuls of this cooling draught every
two hours； and to…night give him this sleeping draught。 I will be
over to…morrow morning to see him。 Do not be uneasy about him；
the wound itself is not serious； and when we have got rid of the
fever and inflammation I have no doubt we shall pull him round
before long。〃
〃I know the wound is nothing；〃 Vincent said； 〃I have told Miss
Kingston so all along。 It is nothing at all to one I got at the first
battle of Bull Run； where I had three ribs badly broken by a shell。
I was laid up a long time over that business。 Now I hope in a week
I shall he fit to travel。〃
The doctor shook his head。 〃Not as soon as that。 Still we will hope
it may not be long。 Now all you have to do is to lie quiet and not
worry； and to get to sleep as quick as you can。 You must not let
your patient talk； Miss Kingston。 It will be satisfactory to you； no
doubt；〃 he went on turning to Vincent； 〃to know that there is no
fear whatever of your being disturbed here。 The road leads
nowhere； and is entirely out of the way of traffic。 I should say you
might be here six months without even a chance of a visitor。
Every one knows the house is shut up； and as you have no neighbor
within half a mile no one is likely to call in。 Even if any one did
by accident come here you would be in no danger； we are all one
way of thinking about here。〃
〃Shall we make some broth for him？〃 Lucy asked after they had
left the room。
〃No； he had best take nothing whatever during the next
twenty…four hours except his medicine and cooling drinks。 The
great thing is to get down the fever。 We can soon build him up
afterward。〃
By nightfall the exertions of Dan； Lucy； and Chloe had made the
house tidy。 Beds of rushes and grass had been made in the room
upstairs for the women； and Dan had no occasion for one for
himself； as he was going to stop up with his master。 He； however；
brought a bundle of rushes into the kitchen； and when it became
dark threw himself down upon them for a few hours' sleep； Lucy
and her old nurse taking their place in Vincent's room； aLd
promising to rouse Dan at twelve o'clock。
During the easy part of the night Vincent was restless and uneasy；
but toward morning he became more quiet and dozed off； and had
hut just awoke when the doctor drove up at ten o'clock。 He found
the inflammation and swelling so much abated that he was able at
once to proceed to search for the ball。 Chloe was his assistant。
Lucy felt that her nerves would not be equal to it； and Dan's hand
shook so that be could not hold the basin。 In a quarter of an hour；
which seemed to Lucy to be an age； the doctor came out of the
room。
〃There is the bullet； Miss Kingston。〃
〃And is he much hurt； sir？〃
〃It is a nasty wound；〃 the doctor replied。 〃The collarbone is badly
broken； and I fancy the head of the bone of the upper arm； to put it
in language you will understand； is fractured； but of that I cannot
be quite sure。 I will examine it again tomorrow； and will then
bandage it in its proper position。 At present I have only put a
bandage round the arm and body to prevent movement。 I should
bathe it occasionally with warm water； and you can give him a
little weak broth to…day。 I think； on the whole； he is doing very
well。 The feeling that you are all for the present safe from
detection has had as much to do with the abatement of the fever as
my medicine。〃
The next morning the report was still satisfactory。 The fever had
almost disappeared； and Vincent was in good spirits。 The doctor
applied the splints to keep the shoulder up in its proper position；
and then tightly bandaged it。
〃It depends upon yourself now；〃 he said； 〃whether your shoulders
are both of the same width as before or not。 If you will lie quiet；
and give the broken bones time to reunite； I think I can promise
you that you will be as straight as before； but if not…putting aside
the chances of inflammation…that shoulder will be lower than the
other； and you will never get your full strength in it again。 Quiet
and patience are the only medicines you require； and as there can
be no particular hurry for you to get south； and as your company
here is pleasant and you have two good nurses； there is no excuse
for your not being quiet and contented。〃
〃Very well； doctor。 I promise that unless there is a risk of our
being discovered I will be as patient as you can wish。 As you say； I
have everything to make me contented and comfortable。〃
The doctor had a chat with Lucy； and agreed with her that perhaps
it would be better to inform the mistress of the house that there
were strangers there。 Some of the people living along the road
might notice him going or coming； or see Dan on his way to
market； and might come and ascertain that the house was
inhabited； and communicate the fact to their old neighbor。
〃I will see her myself； Miss Kingston； and tell her that I have sent a
patient of mine to take up his quarters here。 I will say he is ready
to pay some small sum weekly as long as he occupies the house。 I
have no doubt she would be willing enough to let you have it
without that； for although I shall say nothing actually I shall let her
guess from my manner that it is a wounded Confederate； and that
will be enough for her。 Still； I have no doubt that the idea of
getting a few dollars for the rent of an empty house will add to her
patriotism。 People of her class are generally pretty close…fisted；
and she will look upon this as a little pocket…money。 Good…by！ I
shall not call to…morrow； but will be round next day again。〃
On his next visit the doctor told Lucy that he had arranged the
matter with her landlady； and that she was to pay a dollar a week
as rent。 〃I should not tell your patient about this；〃 he said。 〃It will
look to him as if I considered his stay was likely to be a long one；
and it might fidget him。〃
〃How long will it be； doctor； do you think？〃
〃That I cannot say。 If all goes well； he ought in a month to be
fairly cured； but before starting upon a journey which will tax his
strength； I should say at least six weeks。〃
Ten days later Vincent was up； and able to get about。 A pile of
grass had been heaped up by the door； so that he could sit down in
the sun and enjoy the air。 Lucy was in high spirits； and flitted in
and out of the house； sometimes helping Chloe； at others talking to
Vincent。
〃What are you laughing at？〃 she asked as she came out suddenly
on one of these occasions。
〃I was just thinking；〃 he said； 〃that no stranger who dropped in
upon us would dream that we were not at home here。 There is Dan
tidying up the garden； Chloe is quite at her ease in th