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68 afterwards, and remember feeling very sleepy. When I woke up again, I felt refreshed, and looked about for the young lady; but she was gone, so I began to consider, and confess that I felt influenced by a spirit of devilment at my own ludicrous position. Here was I, toothless, beardless, hairless, and dangerously wounded, with a fever thrown in by way of an additional luxury. I fancied there was something comical about the situation, and felt so amused that I had a quiet chuckle to myself over the matter.

After a time the door opened, and the young lady entered the room, looking, I thought, more lovely than ever. She approached my bedside, and said that I should endeavour to be cheerful, for Dr. Exelexeto was of the opinion that, notwithstanding my weakness, I should speedily recover, but that it would be necessary for me to remain quiet and avoid excitement of every kind till I got stronger.

I then began to thank her for her kindness to me during my illness. She replied that she was amply rewarded for any little trouble that she might, have taken, by seeing me make such progress towards convalescence. I learnt that her name was Vandalia, and tried to keep up a conversation with her in a stammering way. She told me that I was