A flash of red lightning filled the darkening room. It was followed by
a crash of thunder, a rush of wind and a downpour as from a
cloud-burst. I saw the woman rise and shut both windows; then for me
there was a blank for two or three minutes.
She told me afterwards that when she turned from the window, where she
stood watching the rain falling in sheets, she saw me lying prone
beside her chair. I know that I heard her talking, but I could not
speak to tell her I could.
"My gracious!" she ejaculated as she bent over me, "if this don't beat
all! Jane," she called, but it sounded far away, "come here quick.
Here, help me lift this girl on to the cot. Bring me that camphor
bottle from the shelf; I 'll loosen her clothes.--Rub her hands.--She
fell without my hearing her, there was such an awful crash.--Light the
lamp too...
"There now, she's beginning to come to; guess 't was nothing but the
heat after all, or mebbe she 's faint to her stomach; you never can
tell when this kind 's had any food. Just run down and make a cup of
cocoa, but light the lamp first--I want to see what she 's like."
I heard all this as through a thick blanket wrapped about my head, but
I could n't open my eyes or speak. The woman's voice came at first
from a great distance; gradually it grew louder, clearer.
"Now we 'll see," she said.
She must have let the lamplight fall full on my face, for through my
closed and weighted lids I saw red and yellow. I felt her bend over
me; her breath was on my cheek. Still I could not speak.
"She 's the living image," I heard her say quite distinctly; "I guess I
've had one turn I shan't get over in a hurry."
I found myself wondering what she meant and trying to lift my eyelids.
She took my hand; I knew she must be looking at the nails.
"She 's coming round all right--the blood 's turning in her nails."
She took both my hands to rub them.