"It sounds prodigiously like the concussion on the atmosphere made by
the explosion of firearms," said the surgeon, sipping his tea with great
indifference. "I should imagine it to be the troop of Captain Lawton
returning, did I not know the captain never uses the pistol, and that he
dreadfully abuses the saber."
"Merciful providence!" exclaimed the agitated maiden, "he would not
injure one with it, certainly."
"Injure!" repeated the other quickly. "It is certain death, madam; the
most random blows imaginable; all that I can say to him will have no
effect."
"But Captain Lawton is the officer we saw this morning, and is surely
your friend," said Frances, hastily, observing her aunt to be seriously
alarmed.
"I find no fault with his want of friendship; the man is well enough if
he would learn to cut scientifically. All trades, madam, ought to be
allowed to live; but what is to become of a surgeon, if his patients are
dead before he sees them!"
The doctor continued haranguing on the probability and improbability of
its being the returning troop, until a loud knock at the door gave new
alarm to the ladies. Instinctively laying his hand on a small saw, that
had been his companion for the whole day, in the vain expectation of an
amputation, the surgeon, coolly assuring the ladies that he would stand
between them and danger, proceeded in person to answer the summons.
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