"Aye, most truly. Had you not killed him--I would."
"Why, then 'tis strange I should grieve thus--I have killed men ere this, as you do know, nor troubled; belike 'tis my sickness--or the memory of my lady Joan--Damaris, her gentleness. Howbeit I am sorry and sad and greatly afraid."
"Nay," said I. "What should fright you that do fear nothing?"
"Myself, Martino--I have been--minded to kill you--more than once!"
"And yet do I fear!" said she, with a great sigh.
Mutely she suffered me to uncover her arm and unwind the bandages and I saw the tender flesh was very angry and inflamed, whereupon I summoned Resolution from his cooking, who at my desire brought the chest of medicines with water, etc., and set myself to soothe and cherish this painful wound as gently as I might, and though she often blenched for the pain of it she uttered no complaint.
"Nay," said she, catching her breath for pain of it, "I am none so tender. D'ye mind how I burned the boat you had so laboured at?"
"And how I gave you an evil draught that was agony?"
When I had anointed and bound up her wound she must needs praise my skill and vow she was herself again and would be up and about, whereat Resolution reached down to aid her to rise, but this I would by no means suffer, telling her that she must rest and sleep the fever from her blood. At this she scowled, then all of a sudden laughed.
"Why, then, you shall stay and talk with me!"
"Rather shall Resolution mix you a sleeping draught."
"Verily, brother, two have I mixed, but she'll not take 'em!"
"Why, then, being two to one, we must force her to drink," said I.
"Force her to drink, comrade? Force Joannas--God's light--!"
"Mix the potion, man, or teach me!" So in the end Resolution did as I bade; then kneeling beside Joanna, I raised her upon my arm and set the pannikin to her lips, whereupon, though she frowned, she presently drank it off meekly enough, to Resolution's no small wonder and her own, it seemed.
"I grow marvellous obedient!" said she. "And 'tis hateful stuff!"
"Now sleep," quoth I. "'Tis life to you--"
"Wouldst have me live, to plague you again, mayhap?" she questioned.
"Nay, this is as you will, Martino. Wouldst have me live, indeed?"
Now seeing how she hung upon my answer, beholding the wistful pleading of her look, I nodded.
