"Well, then, when I left you, I was raving mad."
"That is true, I'll be sworn."
"I let my horse go; and he took me near a hundred miles from here, and stopped at—at—a farm-house. The good people took me in."
"God bless them for it. I'll ride and thank them."
"Nay, nay; 't is 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."