d over 'the
few happy days at your house, the only time when his mind was at
ease'.... Poor Keats cannot see any letters--at least he will
not; they affect him so much, and increase his danger. The two
last I repented giving: he made me put them into his box, unread.

"_January 15._ Torlonia the banker has refused us any more money.
The bill is returned unaccepted, and to-morrow I must pay my last
crown for this cursed lodging-place: and what is more, if he
dies, all the beds and furniture will be burnt, and the walls
scraped, and they will come on me for a hundred pounds or
more.... You see my hopes of being kept by the Royal Academy will
be cut off unless I send a picture in the spring. I have written
to Sir T. Lawrence.

"_February 12._ At times I have hoped he would recover; but the
doctor shook his head, and Keats would not hear that he was
better; the thought of recovery is beyond everything dreadful to
him.

[To Mrs. Brawne.] "_February 14._ His mind is growing to great
quietness and peace. I find this change has its rise from the
increasing weakness of his body; but it seems like a delightful
sleep to me, I have been beating about in the tempest of his mind
so long. To-night he has talked very much to me, but so easily
that he at last fell into a pleasant sleep. He seems to have
comfortable dreams without nightmare. This will bring on some
change: it cannot be worse--it may be better. Among the many
things he has requested of me to-night, this is the
principal--that on his grave shall be this, 'Here lies one whose
name was writ in water.'... Such a letter has come! I gave it to
Keats, supposing it to be one of yours; but it proved sadly
otherwise. The glance of that letter tore him to pieces. The
effects were on him for many days. He did not read it--he could
not; but requested me to place it in his coffin, together with a
purse and letter (unopened) of his sister's: since which time he
has requested me not to place _that_ letter in his coffin, but
only his sister's purse and letter, with some hair. Then he found
many causes of his illness in the exciting and thwarting of his
passions; but I persuaded him to feel otherwise on this delicate
point.... I have got an English nurse to come two hours every
other day.... He has taken half a pint of fresh milk: the milk
here is beautiful to all the s