She it must have been who had just rung the bell.

The cares of the plantation rushed upon him, and he sat up in bed, clutching at the wall for support as the mosquito screen lurched dizzily around him.

He was still sitting there, holding on, with eyes closed, striving to master his giddiness, when he heard her voice.
"You'll lie right down again, sir," she said.
It was sharply imperative, a voice used to command.

At the same time one hand pressed him back toward the pillow while the other caught him from behind and eased him down.
"You've been unconscious for twenty-four hours now," she went on, "and I have taken charge.

When I say the word you'll get up, and not until then.