Consideration for poor Lady Verinder forbade me even to hint that I had guessed the melancholy truth, before she opened her lips.

I waited her pleasure in silence; and, having privately arranged to say a few sustaining words at the first convenient opportunity, felt prepared for any duty that could claim me, no matter how painful it might be.
"I have been seriously ill, Drusilla, for some time past," my aunt began.

"And, strange to say, without knowing it myself." I thought of the thousands and thousands of perishing human creatures who were all at that moment spiritually ill, without knowing it themselves.

And I greatly feared that my poor aunt might be one of the number.

"Yes, dear," I said, sadly.