Sorrowful as I was, I could not help bursting out a-laughing, and he did so too, when suddenly stopping short and looking very odd,—“I don’t know whatever has given way in my Throat,” says he, “but verily I think that Laugh has saved me! Here! give me some Water, or Milk, or Anything to drink, for I can swallow now.”
So I gave him some Water, and ran down Stairs for some Milk, the Night-watchman having promised to set some within the Door. When I got back, there was quite another Expression on his Face; composed and thankful. Dorcas was shedding Tears as she tended him, quite thoughtless of herself.
“Now, Cherry,” says he, “do persuade this dear Woman to lie down and take Care of herself, for she has had Faith enough in her famous Plasters to have put one about her own Throat, and I know what she must be suffering, or will have to suffer.”
So I gently led her back to her Mattress, and then, sitting down by Master Blower, fed him with some Sponge-cake that was none the worse for being stale when sopped in Milk, warm from the Cow. He took it with great Satisfaction, and said he hoped I should not think him greedy when I remembered how long he had fasted. Then he would not be peaceified till I went down Stairs and breakfasted by myself: telling me his Mind to him a Kingdom was, or somewhat to that Effect, which I could thoroughly believe. When I came back, Dorcas seemed sleeping soundly, though not very easily. Master Blower had got the same heavenly Look as when I first saw him. I asked him if there were Anything I could do for him. He said, Yes, I could read him the fortieth Psalm. When I had done so, he said, “And now you can read me the hundred and sixteenth.” That, he said, would do to reflect upon, and I might go my Ways now; he should want Nothing more for a good While. So I sat down in a great Arm-chair with a tall Back, wherein, the Chair being mighty comfortable, and I somewhat o’erwearied with watching, (not being very strong yet,) or ever I was aware I fell asleep, which certainly was not very good Nursing nor good Manners.
When I woke up, which may perhaps have been not so soon as it seemed to me, “Well, Mistress Cherry,” says Master Blower, somewhat ironically, “I hope you have had a good Nap. A Penny for your Dream.”
I said it had been a wonderful pleasant one ... too wonderful, I feared, to come true.
“Well, let’s have it, nevertheless,” says he; “I like hearing wonderful Dreams sometimes, when I’ve Nothing better to do. So, now for it.”
—When I came to think it over, however, it seemed so different, waking and sleeping, that I despaired of making it seem to him Anything like what it had seemed to me.
“Come,” said he, “you’re making a new one.”
“Oh no, Sir!” said I, “I would not do such a Thing on any Account.—My Dream was this;—only I fear you’ll call it a comical one.... Methought I was walking with you, Sir, (I beg your Pardon for dreaming of you, which I should not have done if I had not been nursing of you, I dare say)——”