My illness has made me think-- It has given me leisure and calmness for serious recollection.

Long before I was enough recovered to talk, I was perfectly able to reflect.

I considered the past: I saw in my own behaviour, since the beginning of our acquaintance with him last autumn, nothing but a series of imprudence towards myself, and want of kindness to others.

I saw that my own feelings had prepared my sufferings, and that my want of fortitude under them had almost led me to the grave.

My illness, I well knew, had been entirely brought on by myself by such negligence of my own health, as I had felt even at the time to be wrong.