Then, as the gloom fell more thickly around them every moment, she swerved her horse over to the mare, as if it were necessary that she read the face of the doctor while she spoke.
"Six months ago," she said, "my father was robust and active in spite of his age.

He was cheerful, busy, and optimistic.

But he fell into a decline.

It has not been a sudden sapping of his strength.

If it were that I should not worry so much; I'd attribute it to disease.