"God bless them for it. I'll ride and thank them."
"Nay, nay; 'tis too far. There I fell sick of a fever, a brain-fever: the doctor blooded me."
"Alas! would he had taken mine instead."
"And I lost my wits for several days; and when I came back I was weak as water, and given up by the doctor: and the first thing I saw, was an old hag set a making of my shroud."
Here the narrative was interrupted a moment by Mrs. Gaunt seizing him convulsively, and then holding him tenderly, as if he was even now about to be taken from her.
"The good people nursed me, and so did their daughter, and I came back from the grave. I took an inn; but I gave up that, and had to pay forfeit; and so my money all went; but they kept me on. To be sure I helped on the farm: they kept a hostelry as well. By-and-by came that murrain among the cattle. Did you have it in these parts too?"
"I know not; nor care. Prithee, leave cattle, and talk of thyself."
"Well, in a word, they were ruined, and going to be sold up. I could not bear that: I became bondsman for the old man. It was the least I could do. Kate, they had saved thy husband's life."
"Not a word more, Griffith. How much stand you pledged for?"
"A large sum."