But the gates remained shut.

When Paul took a turn for the better, the London physician came down again and declared that he was living in defiance of all the laws of pathology, and with a graceful compliment left the case in the hands of Dr.Fuller.When his life was out of danger, Dr.
Fuller attributed the miracle to the nurses; Ursula Winwood attributed it to Dr.Fuller; the London physician to Paul's superb constitution; and Paul himself, perhaps the most wisely, to the pleasant-faced, masterful lady who had concentrated on his illness all the resources of womanly tenderness.
But it was a long time before Paul was capable of formulating such an opinion.

It was a long time before he could formulate any opinion at all.

When not delirious or comatose, he had the devil of pleurisy tearing at the wall of his lung like a wild cat.

Only gradually did he begin to observe and to question.