George Macdonald

St. George and St. Michael George Macdonald

Early the next morning, after Richard had left the cottage for Raglan castle, mistress Reeswas awaked by the sound of a heavy blow against her door. When with difficulty she hadopened it, Richard or his dead body, she knew not which, fell across her threshold. Likepoor Marquis, he had come to her for help and healing. When he got out of the quarry, he made for the highroad, but missing the way the dog hadbrought him, had some hard work in reaching it; and long before he arrived-at thecottage, what with his wound, his loss of blood, his double wetting, his sleeplessness aftermistress Watson's potion, want of food, disappointment and fatigue, he was in a high fever. The last mile or two he had walked in delirium, but happily with the one dominant idea ofgetting help from mother Rees. The poor woman was greatly shocked to find that the teethof the trap had closed upon her favourite and mangled him so terribly. A drop or two of oneof her restoratives, however, soon brought him round so far that he was able to crawl to thechair on which he had sat the night before, now ages agone as it seemed, where he now satshivering and glowing alternately, until with trembling hands the good woman hadprepared her own bed for him.'Thou hast left thy doublet behind thee, ' she said, 'and I warrant me the cake I gave thee inthe pouch thereof! Hadst thou eaten of that, thou hadst not come to this pass.'But Richard scarcely heard her voice. His one mental consciousness was the longing desireto lay his aching head on the pillow, and end all effort. Finding his wound appeared very tolerably dressed, Mrs. Rees would not disturb thebandages. She gave him a cooling draught, and watched by him till he fell asleep. Then shetidied her house, dressed herself, and got everything in order for nursing him. She wouldhave sent at once to Redware to let his father know where and in what condition he was, but not a single person came near the cottage the whole day, and she dared not leave himbefore the fever had subsided. He raved a good deal, generally in the delusion that he wastalking to Dorothy-who sought to kill him, and to whom he kept giving directions, at one 5time how to guide the knife to reach his heart, at another how to mingle her poison so thatit should act with speed and certain