Копи царя Соломона
Good Falls Sick
ForthefirstnightortwoItriedtohelpher,andsodidSirHenryassoonashisstiffnessallowedhimtomove,butFoulataboreourinterferencewithimpatience, andfinallyinsisteduponourleavinghimtoher,sayingthatourmovementsmadehimrestless, whichIthinkwastrue. Dayandnightshewatchedhimandtendedhim,givinghimhisonlymedicine,anativecoolingdrinkmadeofmilk,inwhichwasinfusedjuicefromthebulbofaspeciesoftulip,andkeepingthefliesfromsettlingonhim. Icanseethewholepicturenowasitappearednightafternightbythelightofourprimitivelamp; Goodtossingtoandfro,hisfeaturesemaciated,hiseyesshininglargeandluminous,andjabberingnonsensebytheyard; andseatedonthegroundbyhisside,herbackrestingagainstthewallofthehut,thesoft-eyed,shapelyKukuanabeauty, herface,wearyasitwaswithherlongvigil,animatedbyalookofinfinitecompassion —orwasitsomethingmorethancompassion?
Fortwodayswethoughtthathemustdie,andcreptaboutwithheavyhearts.
OnlyFoulatawouldnotbelieveit.
"Hewilllive,"shesaid.
ForthreehundredyardsormorearoundTwala’schiefhut,wherethesuffererlay,therewassilence; forbytheking’sorderallwholivedinthehabitationsbehindit,exceptSirHenryandmyself,hadbeenremoved,lestanynoiseshouldcometothesickman’sears. Onenight,itwasthefifthofGood’sillness,aswasmyhabit,Iwentacrosstoseehowhewasdoingbeforeturninginforafewhours.
