Page:Shiana - Peadar Ua Laoghaire.djvu/293

Rh it that he did not remember coining in? Was it that he had walked in in his sleep? He felt his bones sore. He looked at his two hands. They were nothing but bones. He put his hand down upon his chest. His ribs were as bare as an old basket!

"I don't know in the earth or the world," said he to himself, "what has happened to me!"

He called the woman. He did not recognise his own voice, it was so weak. She ran to him at once.

"Oh, praise for ever to God, Shiana," said she, "you have your sense and your reason at last! You have got over it. There is no danger of you now, with the help of God!"

"What have I got over?" said he.

"Why," said she, "the worst brain fever I ever met with. But it is gone, great thanks to God for it! Don't talk any more now; you are too weak to talk much. You will soon be strong enough for it, with the help of God. I have a drink here for you. Take it and drink it. It will do you good. There!"

"How long have I been here, Mary?" said he.

"It is three weeks since I came," said she, "and I think you were three days ill before I was sent for."

Shiana lay back and closed his eyes, but it was not to sleep.

"Three weeks! What has happened to me at all?" said he to himself. "Mary!" said he to the woman.

"Yes, Shiana," said she.

"Have you any idea how the illness came upon me?"