The pain of my partial resuscitation was unbearable.

I could feel my body coming to life.

Down the cords of my neck and into my patch of chest over the heart darting pains were making their way.

And in my brain the memory was strong that Philippa waited me in the big hall, and I was desirous to escape away back to the half a day and half a night I had just lived in old France.
So it was, even as they stood about me, that I strove to eliminate the live portion of my body from my consciousness.

I was in haste to depart, but Warden Atherton's voice held me back.
"Is there anything you want to complain about ?" he asked.
Now I had but one fear, namely, that they would unlace me; so that it must be understood that my reply was not uttered in braggadocio but was meant to forestall any possible unlacing.
"You might make the jacket a little tighter," I whispered.