She didn't care to talk about him even to me, and I had hard work to persuade her to eat or drink enough to keep life in her at this time.

When the days were fine, I used to try and get her to walk out a little, for she looked as white as a ghost for want of air; and after a good deal of persuasion, she did go out sometimes of an afternoon, but she wouldn't ask any one to walk with her, though there were plenty she might have asked--the young ladies from the Rectory and others.

She preferred being alone, she told me, and I was glad that she should get the air and the change anyhow.

She brightened a little after this, but very little.

It was all of a sudden one day that she told me she was going away.