68 ACCIDENT 



my head, which otherwise must have been literally 

 smashed ; as it was, I was dreadfully injured, to all 

 appearance irrecoverably so. The old gentleman escaped 

 unhurt, though beside himself with fright. He was soon 

 assisted down, and then I was lifted off, carried into 

 a room, and laid on my back on the floor, where my 

 father for some time stood weeping over me. 



The doctor was sent for, and was quickly in atten- 

 dance. He pronounced it a very serious case, though he 

 hoped it would not be a fatal one. He bled me freely 

 from the arm, and ordered me to be put to bed, as 

 it would be impossible to remove me under a month. 



In this state did I lay for three days ; the doctor 

 in regular attendance. He had by bleeding and potions 

 prevented fever ; and the pain from the blow having in a 

 great measure subsided, though I still felt very sore, as 

 well as weak, I was determined to leave the place for 

 my father's house in London ; and learn, from the 

 highest source, the amount of injury my frame had 

 sustained. 



My friend, the coachmaker, whose family I had long 

 known, sat up with me the first night, and did not 

 depart till one of my sisters arrived from London the 

 followins: mornino:, and remained. 



On the Thursday morning, with her help I managed to 

 dress myself ; and it being a fine day, went out and sat 

 under an apple- tree in the garden, where the doctor, to his 

 great surprise, about eleven o'clock discovered me reading; 

 he seemed glad to find me so much better, but thought 

 I was running a great risk in leaving my room so soon. 

 In the afternoon my father came down, and aU things 



