"It helpeth me to endure this pain!"
When I had anointed and bound up her wound she must needs praise my skill and vow she was herself again and would be up and about, whereat Resolution reached down to aid her to rise, but this I would by no means suffer, telling her that she must rest and sleep the fever from her blood. At this she scowled, then all of a sudden laughed.
"Why, then, you shall stay and talk with me!"
"Rather shall Resolution mix you a sleeping draught."
"Verily, brother, two have I mixed, but she'll not take 'em!"
"Why, then, being two to one, we must force her to drink," said I.
"Force her to drink, comrade? Force Joannas—God's light—!"
"Mix the potion, man, or teach me!" So in the end Resolution did as I bade; then kneeling beside Joanna, I raised her upon my arm and set the pannikin to her lips, whereupon, though she frowned, she presently drank it off meekly enough, to Resolution's no small wonder and her own, it seemed.
"I grow marvellous obedient!" said she. "And 'tis hateful stuff!"
"Now sleep," quoth I. "'Tis life to you—"