Mary! exclaimed the Carrier, supporting her in his arms. Are you ill! What is it? Tell me, dear!
She only answered by beating her hands together, and falling into a wild fit of laughter. Then, sinking from his grasp upon the ground, she covered her face with her apron, and wept bitterly. And then she laughed again, and then she cried again, and then she said how cold it was, and suffered him to lead her to the fire, where she sat down as before. The old man standing, as before, quite still.
Im better, John, she said. Im quite well now I
John! But John was on the other side of her. Why turn her face towards the strange old gentleman, as if addressing him! Was her brain wandering?