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ill be satisfied； or it will take deadly vengeance on its frame。”
“Well； sir； I will stay with you： I have said so。”
“Yes—but you understand one thing by staying with me； and I understand another。 You； perhaps； could make up your mind to be about my hand and chair—to wait on me as a kind little nurse （for you have an affectionate heart and a generous spirit； which prompt you to make sacrifices for those you pity）； and that ought to suffice for me no doubt。 I suppose I should now entertain none but fatherly feelings for you： do you think so？ e—tell me。”
“I will think what you like； sir： I am content to be only your nurse； if you think it better。”
“But you cannot always be my nurse； Ja： you are young—you must marry one day。”
“I don’t care about being married。”
“You should care； Ja： if I were what I once was； I would try to make you care—but—a sightless block！”
He relapsed again into gloom。 I； on the contrary； became more cheerful； and took fresh courage： these last words gave me an insight as to where the difficulty lay； and as it was no difficulty y previous embarrassment。 I resumed a livelier vein of conversation。
“It is time some one undertook to rehumanise you；” said I； parting his thick and long uncut locks； “for I see you are being metamorphosed into a lion； or something of that sort。 You have a ‘faux air’ of Nebuchadnezzar in the fields about you； that is certain： your hair reminds me of eagles’ feathers； whether your nails are grown like birds’ claws or not； I have not yet noticed。”
“On this arm； I have neither hand nor nails；” he said； drawing the mutilated limb from his breast； and showing it to me。 “It is a mere stump—a ghastly sight！ Don’t you think so； Jane？”
“It is a pity to see it； an