The brain had been injured, and recovery could not be immediate.

Hovey the housekeeper had so begged to be installed as nurse, that her wish was granted, and she was with him night and day.

Now she shook her head at him sadly, now talked in broken sentences to herself, now bustled about silently, a tyrant to the other servants sent down from the Court.
Every day also the headgroom and the huntsman came, and in the village Gaston's humble friends discussed the mystery, stoutly defending him when some one said it was "more nor gabble, that theer saying o' the poacher at the meetin.'" But the landlord and his wife kept silence, the officers of the law took no action, and the town and country newspapers could do no more than speak of "A vicious assault upon the heir of Ridley Court." It had become the custom now to leave Ian out of that question.

But the wonder died as all wonders do, and Gaston made his fight for health.
The day before he was removed to the Court, Mrs.Cawley was helped up-stairs to see him.

She was gaunt and hollow-eyed.