For a few moments it turned its yellowish skull to this side and that; then, heedless of its neighbour, got upon its feet by grasping the spokes of the hind wheel.

Half erected thus, it stood with its back to the other, both hands holding one of its knee-joints.

With little less difficulty and not a few contortions, the kneeling one rose next, and addressed its companion.
"Have you hurt yourself, my lord ?" it said, in a voice that sounded far-off, and ill-articulated as if blown aside by some spectral wind.
"Yes, I have," answered the other, in like but rougher tone.

"You would do nothing to help me, and this cursed knee is out!" "I did my best, my lord." "No doubt, my lady, for it was bad! I thought I should never find my feet again!--But, bless my soul, madam! are you out in your bones ?" She cast a look at herself.
"I have nothing else to be out in," she returned; "-- and YOU at least cannot complain! But what on earth does it mean?
Am I dreaming ?" "YOU may be dreaming, madam--I cannot tell; but this knee of mine forbids me the grateful illusion .-- Ha! I too, I perceive, have nothing to walk in but bones!--Not so unbecoming to a man, however! I trust to goodness they are not MY bones! every one aches worse than another, and this loose knee worst of all! The bed must have been damp--and I too drunk to know it!" "Probably, my lord of Cokayne!" "What! what!--You make me think I too am dreaming--aches and all! How do YOU know the title my roistering bullies give me?
I don't remember you!--Anyhow, you have no right to take liberties! My name is--I am lord----tut, tut! What do you call me when I'm--I mean when you are sober?
I cannot--at the moment,--Why, what IS my name ?--I must have been VERY drunk when I went to bed! I often am!" "You come so seldom to mine, that I do not know, my lord; but I may take your word for THAT!" "I hope so!" "-- if for nothing else!" "Hoity toity! I never told you a lie in my life!" "You never told me anything but lies." "Upon my honour!--Why, I never saw the woman before!" "You knew me well enough to lie to, my lord!" "I do seem to begin to dream I have met you before, but, upon my oath, there is nothing to know you by! Out of your clothes, who is to tell who you may not be ?--One thing I MAY swear--that I never saw you so much undressed before!--By heaven, I have no recollection of you!" "I am glad to hear it: my recollections of you are the less distasteful!--Good morning, my lord!" She turned away, hobbled, clacking, a few paces, and stood again.
"You are just as heartless as--as--any other woman, madam!--Where in this hell of a place shall I find my valet ?--What was the cursed name I used to call the fool ?" He turned his bare noddle this way and that on its creaking pivot, still holding his knee with both hands.
"I will be your valet for once, my lord," said the lady, turning once more to him.

"-- What can I do for you?
It is not easy to tell!" "Tie my leg on, of course, you fool! Can't you see it is all but off?
Heigho, my dancing days!" She looked about with her eyeless sockets and found a piece of fibrous grass, with which she proceeded to bind together the adjoining parts that had formed the knee.