s arrival, I was supposed to be
in a fair way.

"During this journey, he was tortured with all that terrible suspense
which prevails in the minds of those who are in danger of losing that
which is most dear to them; and, when he entered the house, was so much
overwhelmed with apprehension, that he durst not inquire about the state
of my health. As for my part, I never closed an eye from the time on
which I expected his return; and, when I heard his voice, I threw open
my curtains, and sat up in the bed to receive him, though at the hazard
of my life. He ran towards me with all the eagerness of passion, and
clasped me in his arms; he kneeled by the bedside, and kissed my hand
a thousand times, and wept with transports of tenderness and joy.
In short, this meeting was so pathetic as to overcome my enfeebled
constitution, and we were parted by those who were wiser than ourselves,
and saw that nothing was so proper for us as a little repose.

"But how shall I relate the deplorable transition from envied happiness
to excess of misery which I now sustained! My month was hardly up, when
my dear husband was taken ill; perhaps the fatigue of body, as well as
mind, which he had undergone on my account, occasioned a fatal ferment
in his blood, and his health fell a sacrifice to his love. Physicians
were called from London, but alas! they brought no hopes of his
recovery. By their advice, he was removed to town, for the convenience
of being punctually attended. Every moment was too precious to be thrown
away; he was therefore immediately put into the coach, though the day
was far spent; and I, though exceedingly weak, accompanied him in the
journey, which was performed by the light of flambeaus, and rendered
unspeakingly shocking by the dismal apprehension of losing him every
moment.

"At length, however, we arrived at our lodgings in Pall Mall, where I
lay by him on the floor, and attended the issue of his distemper in all
the agonies of horror and despair. In a little time his malady
settled upon his brain, and, in his delirium, he uttered such dreadful
exclamations, as were sufficient to pierce the most savage heart. What
effect then must they have had on mine, which was fraught with every
sentiment of the most melting affection! It was not a common grief that
took possession of my soul; I felt all the aggravation of the most acute
distress. I sometimes ran down the street in a fit of distraction: I
sent for the doctors every