around her; her indomitable spirit appeared to sustain her by its own energies, independently of the common aids of life, for she scarcely imbibed the smallest portion of sustenance, appeared to have attained the power of commanding sleep according to her will, and sunk into it after every exertion made in speaking, so as to recruit her strength for a new trial. There was some reason to believe she did foresee her end, for faculties so clear as her's could not be blind to it, but she had made up her mind for some time not to own that her illness could be fatal, and she abode by the declaration.
Nevertheless, on the day following, to Helen's great relief, she consented to remain in bed, by that means husbanding her little strength, and enabling her the better to attend to those letters from her daughters in Yorkshire, which at this time were the great points of interest to which the sands of life were devoted.
When these had been duly commented on, she now said to Helen—
"When cook came up with my mouthful of chocolate, she told me nothing could exceed the kindness of young Hales yesterday, in sending away those vulgar people. Do you know any thing about it, Helen?"
