wasting effects of fever; and her ever active mind, being employed only on subjects flattering to her love of importance, experienced much to soothe and stimulate existence, but nothing to wear it; and, having long considered May as the month which would conclude her imprisonment, she built castles for the time beyond it with the happiest avidity. Now and then the old trouble would arise, "that such and such tradesmen would want money—an evil always to be apprehended from those low people;" but it was evident that, with three sons-in-law, and a fourth expectant, she could never be in positive distress, since, for their own sakes, they would enable her to "keep up appearances."
Leaving her to pleasant dreams, and poor Helen (who now alone received those many light darts the invalid threw off in the way of habitual exercise) to many a waking dream of "the virgin's first love," so sweetly described by Mrs. Opie, we will follow the travellers to Bath, as they reached their destination considerably sooner than those on their way to Yorkshire.
