ling from my neck,
got entangled with my off fore foot. I felt myself falling, a thrill of
agony shot through me--my knees would be broken, and what should I do at
Horncastle with a pair of broken knees? I struggled, but I could not
disengage my off fore foot, and downward I fell, but before I had reached
the ground I awoke, and found myself half out of bed, my bandaged arm in
considerable pain, and my left hand just touching the floor.

With some difficulty I readjusted myself in bed. It was now early
morning, and the first rays of the sun were beginning to penetrate the
white curtains of a window on my left, which probably looked into the
garden, as I caught a glimpse or two of the leaves of trees through a
small uncovered part at the side. For some time I felt uneasy and
anxious, my spirits being in a strange fluttering state. At last my eyes
fell upon a small row of tea-cups seemingly of china, which stood on a
mantelpiece exactly fronting the bottom of the bed. The sight of these
objects, I know not why, soothed and pacified me; I kept my eyes fixed
upon them, as I lay on my back on the bed, with my head upon the pillow,
till at last I fell into a calm and refreshing sleep.

CHAPTER XXXII

The Morning after a Fall--The Teapot--Unpretending Hospitality--The
Chinese Student.

It might be about eight o'clock in the morning when I was awakened by the
entrance of the old man. "How have you rested?" said he, coming up to
the bedside, and looking me in the face. "Well," said I, "and I feel
much better, but I am still very sore." I surveyed him now for the first
time with attention. He was dressed in a sober-coloured suit, and was
apparently between sixty and seventy. In stature he was rather above the
middle height, but with a slight stoop; his features were placid, and
expressive of much benevolence, but, as it appeared to me, with rather a
melancholy cast--as I gazed upon them, I felt ashamed that I should ever
have conceived in my brain a vision like that of the preceding night, in
which he appeared in so disadvantageous a light. At length he said, "It
is now time for you to take some refreshment. I hear my old servant
coming up with your breakfast." In a moment the elderly female entered
with a tray, on which was some bread and butter, a teapot and cup. The
cup was of common blue earthenware, but the pot was of china, curiously
fashioned, and seemingly of great antiquity. The old man poured