The accident was this: a young lady had suddenly stretched out her arm through the open window of the carriage conveying her to the opera, for the purpose of pointing out to one of her companions a brilliant illumination of one of the opposite houses. At that instant their coachman, dashing forward to gain the open space opposite the box-door, shot with great velocity, and within a hair's breadth distance, past a retiring carriage. The consequence was inevitable: a sudden shriek announced the dislocation of the young lady's shoulder, and the shocking laceration of the forearm and hand. When I arrived at the carriage-door the unfortunate sufferer was lying motionless in the arms of an elderly gentleman and a young lady, both of them, as might be expected, dreadfully agitated. It was the Earl of and his two daughters. Having entered the carriage, I placed my fair patient in such a position as would prevent her suffering more than was necessary from the motion of the carriage; despatched one of the servants for Mr. Cline, to meet us on our arrival home; and then the coachman was ordered to drive home as fast as possible. I need not say more, than that by Mr. Cline's skill the dislocation was quickly reduced, and the wounded hand and arm duly dressed. I then prescribed what medicines were necessary; received a check for ten guineas from the earl, accompanied with fervent thanks for my prompt attentions; and was requested to call as early as possible the next morning.

As soon as I had left his lordship's door, I shot home like an arrow. My good fortune (truly it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good) was almost too much for me. I could scarce repress the violence of my emotions, but felt a continual inclination to relieve myself by singing, shouting, or committing some other such extravagance. I arrived at home in a very few minutes, and rushed breathless up stairs, joy glittering in my eyes, to commu,

nicate my good fortune to my wife, and congratulatè ourselves that the door of professional success was at last opened to us. How tenderly she tried to calm my excitement, and moderate my expectations, without at the same time depressing my spirits! I did certainly feel somewhat damped, when I recollected the little incident of my introduction to Sir William -, and its abrupt and unexpected termination. This, however, differed from that; and the event proved that my expectations were not ill founded.

I continued in constant attendance on my fair patient, who was really a very lovely girl; and by my unremitting and anxious attentions so conciliated the favour of the earl and the rest of his family, that the countess, who had long been an invalid, was committed to my care, jointly with that of the family physician. I need hardly say that my poor services were most nobly remunerated; and more, than this, having succeeded in securing the confi dence of the family, it was not many weeks before I had the honour of visiting one or two other families of high rank; and I felt conscious that I was laying the foundation of a fashionable and lucrative prac tice. With joy unutterable I contrived to be ready for our half-yearly tormentor, old L- ; and somewhat surprised him by asking, with an easy air, when he wished for a return of his principal. Of course he was not desirous of losing such interest as I was paying!

I had seen too much of the bitterness of adversity to suffer the dawn of good fortune to elate me into too great confidence. I now husbanded my resources with rigorous economy, and had in return the inexpressible satisfaction of being able to pay my way and stand fair with all my creditors. My beloved Emily appeared in that society which she was born to ornament; and we numbered several families of high respectability among our visiting

friends. As is usual, whenever accident threw me in the way of those who formerly scowled upon me contemptuously, I was received with an excess of civility. The very physician who sent me the munificent donation of a guinea I met in consultation, and made his cheeks tingle by returning him the loan he had advanced me!

In four years' time from the occurrence at the Haymarket I contrived to repay old L his 3000l. (though he did not live a month after signing the receipt), and thus escaped for ever from the fangs of the money-lenders. A word or two, also, about our Indian lodger. He died about eighteen months after the accident I have been relating. His sole heir was a young lieutenant in the navy; and very much to my surprise and gratification, in a codicil to old Mr. G's will I was left a legacy of 2000l., including the 300l. he had lent me, saying it was some return for the many attentions he had received from us since he had been our lodger, and as a mark of his approbation of the honourable and virtuous principles by which, he said, he had always perceived our conduct to be actuated.

Twelve years from this period my income amounted to between 3000l. and 4000l. a-year; and as my family was increasing, I thought my means warranted a more extensive establishment. I there›fore removed into a large and elegant house, and set up my carriage. The recollection of past times has taught me at least one useful lesson, whether my life be long or short, to bear success with moderation, and never to turn a deaf ear to applications from the younger and less successful members of my profession.

"Sweet are the uses of adversity;

Which, like a toad, ugly and venomous,
Years yet a precious jewel in his head,"

CHAPTER II.

CANCER-THE DENTIST AND THE COMEDIAN-A SCHOLAR'S DEATH-BED-PREPARING FOR THE HOUSE-DUELLING.

Cancer.

ONE often hears of the great firmness of the female sex, and their powers of enduring a degree of physical pain which would utterly break down the stubborn strength of man. An interesting exemplification of this remark will be found in the short narrative immediately following. The event made a strong impression on my mind at the time, and I thought it well worthy of an entry in my Diary.

I had for several months been in constant attendance on a Mrs. St- a young married lady, of considerable family and fortune, who was the victim of that terrible scourge of the female sex-a cancer. To great personal attractions she added uncommon sweetness of disposition: and the fortitude with which she submitted to the agonizing inroads of her malady, together with her ardent expressions of gratitude for such temporary alleviations as her anxious medical attendants could supply, contributed to inspire me with a very lively interest in her fate. I can conscientiously say, that during the whole period of my attendance I never heard a word of complaint fall from her, nor witnessed any indications of impatience or irritability. I found her, one morning, stretched on the crimson sofa in the drawingroom; and though her pallid features and gently corrugated eyebrows evidenced the intense agony she was suffering-on my inquiring what sort of a night she had passed, she replied in a calm but tremulous tone, "Oh, doctor, I have had a dreadful

night; but I am glad Captain St was not with me, for it would have made him very wretched!" At that moment a fine flaxen-haired little boy, her first and only child, came running into the room, his blue laughing eyes glittering with innocent merriment. I took him on my knee, and amused him with my watch, in order that he might not disturb his mother. The poor sufferer, after gazing on him with an air of intense fondness for some moments, suddenly covered her eyes with her hand (oh, how slender -how snowy-how almost transparent was it!)— and I presently saw the tears trickling through her fingers-but she uttered not a word. There was the mother!-The aggravated malignity of her disorder rendered an operation at length inevitable.

The

eminent surgeon who, jointly with myself, was in regular attendance on her feelingly communicated the intelligence, and asked whether she thought she had fortitude enough to submit to an operation. She assured him, with a sweet smile of resignation, that she had for some time been suspecting as much, and had made up her mind to submit to it--but on two conditions-that her husband (who was then at sea) should not be informed of it till it was over; and that during the operation she should not be in anywise bound or blindfolded. Her calm and decisive manner convinced me that remonstrance would be useless. Sir looked at me with a doubtful air. She observed it; and said, "I see what you are thinking, Sir ; but I hope to show you that a woman has more courage than you seem willing to give her credit for." In short, after the surgeon had acquiesced in the latter condition-to which he had especially demurred-a day was fixed for the operation -subject, of course, to Mrs. St- -'s state of health. When the Wednesday arrived, it was with some agitation that I entered Sir -'s carriage, in company with himself and his senior pupil, Mr. I could scarce avoid a certain nervous tremor-unprofes