"Don't you fret your wits just now. Keep your strength to fight."
"It's the end, and I'm glad, and I'm glad that you were sent to hear, and nobody else."
He proceeded to attempt an account of his life, but could not. The fever had touched his mind and he rambled in a growing delirium from which no steadfast argument proceeded. William tried in vain to silence him, but he would talk and he had lost all hold on reality when Auna came in to see him before starting. She was tempted not to do so, yet a fear that he might pass away before she returned proved too great for her and she came.
"I'm off now, dear father. Be there anything more for me to remember?"
Bullstone started up and his eyes shone at her.
"Margery! There—I knew she couldn't be far off if I was ill. Don't you fret—it's nothing—just a pinch of poison caught somewhere. Put your cold hand on my head—that's right. Sit down, but don't touch my frame."
He tried to put his arm round her and groaned.
"'Tis like a red-hot knife turning in the elbow and wrist," he said. "Going for a run with the dogs? That's right. Mind the water. Oh, my God, when I saw her in Winter's arms, I thought I'd drop, William. Where's my mother? You'd best to call her to me."
"Let her go then," urged Billy. "Don't you keep her now, she's busy."
Auna rose, but Jacob called her back.