
Huxter at his heels. Costigan had a key of his own, which Huxter inserted into
the keyhole for him, so that there was no need to call up little Mr. Bows from
the sleep into which the old musician had not long since fallen; and Huxter,
having aided to disrobe his tipsy patient, and ascertained that no bones were
broken, helped him to bed, and applied compresses and water to one of his knees
and shins, which, with the pair of trousers which encased them, Costigan had
severely torn in his fall. At the General's age, and with his habit of body,
such wounds as he had inflicted on himself are slow to heal; a good deal of
inflammation ensued, and the old fellow lay ill for some days suffering both
pain and fever.
    Mr. Huxter undertook the case of his interesting patient with great
confidence and alacrity, and conducted it with becoming skill. He visited his
friend day after day, and consoled him with lively rattle and conversation for
the absence of the society which Costigan needed, and of which he was an
ornament; and he gave special instructions to the invalid's nurse about the
quantity of whisky which the patient was to take - instructions which, as the
poor old fellow could not for many days get out of his bed or sofa himself, he
could not by any means infringe. Bows, Mrs. Bolton, and our little friend Fanny,
when able to do so, officiated at the General's bedside, and the old warrior was
made as comfortable as possible under his calamity.
    Thus Huxter, whose affable manners and social turn made him quickly intimate
with persons in whose society he fell, and whose over-refinement did not lead
them to repulse the familiarities of this young gentleman, became pretty soon
intimate in Shepherd's Inn, both with our acquaintances in the garrets and those
in the porter's lodge. He thought he had seen Fanny somewhere - he felt certain
that he had; but it is no wonder that he should not accurately remember her, for
the poor little thing never chose to tell him where she had met him. He himself
had seen her at a period when his own views both of persons and of right and
wrong were clouded by the excitement of drinking and dancing; and also little
Fanny was very much changed and worn by the fever and agitation, and passion and
despair, which the past three weeks had poured upon the head of that little
victim. Borne down was the head now, and very pale and wan the face; and many
and many a time
