en 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 me out a
cupful of tea, and then, with the assistance of the woman, raised me
higher, and propped me up with pillows. I ate and drank; when the pot
was emptied of its liquid (it did not contain much), I raised it up with
my left hand to inspect it. The sides were covered with curious
characters, seemingly hieroglyphics. After surveying them for some time,
I replaced it upon the tray. 'You seem fond of china,' said I to the old
man, after the servant had retired with the breakfast things, and I had
returned to my former posture; 'you have china on the mantelpiece, and
that was a remarkable teapot out of which I have just been drinking.'

The old man fixed his eyes intently on me, and methought the expression
of his countenance became yet more melancholy. 'Yes,' said he, at last,
'I am fond of china--I have reason to be fond of china--but for china I
should--' and here he sighed again.

'You value it for the quaintness and singularity of its form,' said I;
'it appears to be less adapted for real use than our own pottery.'

'I care little about its form,' said the old man; 'I care for it simply
on account of--However, why talk to you on a subject which can have no
possible interest for you? I expect the surgeon here presently.'

'I do not like that surgeon at all,' said I. 'How strangely he behaved
last night, coming back, when I was just