THE SPACE TRILOGY - Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra & That Hideous Strength. C. S. Lewis

      “Yes,” said Humphrey, studying it with the hands and eyes of a scientist. “What extraordinary delicacy! It makes an English violet seem like a coarse weed.”

      “Let’s put some of them in water.”

      “Not much good. Look—it’s withered already.”

      “How do you think he is?”

      “Tip-top in general. But I don’t quite like that heel. He says the hæmorrhage has been going on for a long time.”

      Ransom joined us, fully dressed, and I poured out the tea. And all that day and far into the night he told us the story that follows.