'I have had a letter,' said he; 'your mother is very ill.' I staggered, and touched the nearest object to me; nothing was said for two or three minutes, and then my uncle put his lips to my ear and whispered something.

I fell down senseless.

My mother was--I remember nothing for a long time--for two years I was out of my mind; at the end of this time I recovered, or partly so.

My uncle the baronet was very kind to me; he advised me to travel, he offered to go with me.

I told him he was very kind, but I would rather go by myself.