MRS. JENKIN'S ILLNESS 215 



and the consciousness of the body trembled at its 

 coming. It came in a moment ; the brilhant, 

 spirited old lady leapt from her bed, raving. For 

 about six months, this stage of her disease con- 

 tinued with many painful and many pathetic 

 circumstances ; her husband who tended her, 

 her son who was unwearied in his visits, looked 

 for no change in her condition but the change 

 that comes to all. ' Poor mother,' I find Fleeming 

 writing, ' I cannot get the tones of her voice out 

 of my head. ... I may have to bear this pain 

 for a long time ; and so I am bearing it and sparing 

 myself whatever pain seems useless. Mercifully 

 I do sleep, I am so weary that I must sleep.' And 

 again later : ' I could do very well, if my mind 

 did not revert to my poor mother's state when- 

 ever I stop attending to matters immediately 

 before me.' And the next day : ' I can never 

 feel a moment's pleasure without having my 

 mother's suffering recalled by the very feeling of 

 happiness. A pretty, young face recalls hers by 

 contrast — a careworn face recalls it by associa- 

 tion. I tell you, for I can speak to no one else ; 

 but do not suppose that I wilfully let my mind 

 dwell on sorrow.' 



In* the summer of the next year, the frenzy left 

 her ; it left her stone deaf and almost entirely 

 aphasic, but with some remains of her old sense 

 and courage. Stoutly she set to work with 



