"Broken—what glasses?"
"Those of the carriage—with the explosion."
"Explosion, my dear!"
"Yes. That gun which was discharged. It stunned me. Were you hurt?"
"I heard no gun—no explosion."
"But I did. It was as though a bullet had been discharged into my brain. I wonder that I escaped. Who can have fired at us?"
"My dear, no one fired. I heard nothing. I know what it was. I had the same experience many years ago. I slept in a damp bed, and awoke stone deaf in my right ear. I remained so for three weeks. But one night when I was at a ball and was dancing, all at once I heard a report as of a pistol in my right ear, and immediately heard quite clearly again. It was wax."
"But, Aunt Elizabeth, I have not been deaf."
"You have not noticed that you were deaf."
"Oh! but look at my hair; it was that wind that blew it about."