VII. The First Blast

           LateintheforenoonofthenextdayDavidawokeinhisownbedinthemanseofWoodilee.Heawoketoamultitudeofsmallachesandonegreatone,forhisforeheadwasbandedwithpain.Theroomwasasbrightwithsunshineasthelittlewindowwouldpermit,butitseemedtohimaduskshotbycuriouscolours,withIsobel’sheadbobbinginitlikeafish.Presentlythefacebecameclearandhesawitveryneartohim--ascaredwhitefacewithred-rimmedeyes.Hervoicepenetratedtheconfusednoisesinhisears.

           "TheLordbethankit,sir,theLordbepraised,Mr.David,ye’recomin’ooto’yourdwam.Here’safinehetdrinkforye.Getitdounlikeamanandsyneye’llmaybesleep.There’snaebanesbroke,andI’vedressedyourfacewi’asuresalve.Dinnadisturbtheclouts,sir.Yourskin’sowercleantobeal[fester],andye’llmendquickifyeletthecloutsbideawee."

           Herarmraisedhisachinghead,andheswallowedthegruel.Itmadehimdrowsy,andsoonhewasasleepagain,ahealthynaturalsleep,sothatwhenheawokeintheeveninghewasincomparativeeaseandhisheadachehadgone.Gingerlyhefelthisbody.Therewerebruisesonhislegs,andonehugeoneonhisrightthigh.Hischeeksunderthebandagesfeltrawandscarred,andtherewasatendernessabouthisthroatandthemusclesofhisneck,asifangryhandshadthrottledhim.Butapartfromhisstiffnessheseemedtohavesufferednogreatbodilyhurt,andtheeffectsoftheslightconcussionhadpassed.

           Withthisassurancehismindcameoutofitstorpor,andhefoundhimselfinamiseryofdisquiet.