) Then he wrapped about
me a coarse cloak, also much patched.
"Now," he said, "stand where you are till I make some sort of a bed for
you."
He fumbled about in the dark, grunting and making, I thought, too much
rustling in the leaves. Presently he said:
"I've laid a doubled quilt on the leaves and packed them down. Give me
your hand and I'll arrange you on it. Then I'll cover you with another
quilt."
He did, deftly and solicitously.
I began to feel warm for the first time since I had sunk into the ooze of
the drain-trap.
Agathemer fumbled about in the dark for a while and then came near again
and felt me, making sure where my head was. He made me sit up.
"Smell that!" he said, "and catch hold of it."
I smelt ewe's-milk cheese and my fingers closed on a generous piece of it.
Then, he put into my other hand a big chunk of bread, not yet entirely
cold.
I bit the bread. It was Ofatulena's unsurpassable farm bread, half wheat
flour and half barley flour and at that more appetizing and flavorsome
than any wheat-bread I ever tasted.
"There is plenty for both of us," Agathemer said, "eat all you want, but
eat slow and be careful not to bolt a morsel."
He sat down by me and we munched in silence.
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