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ese ejaculations in her locked diary：
Lord； forgive the sins of the past； and help me to be faithful in future！ May this be a year of much blessing； a year of jubilee！ May I be kept lowly； trusting； loving！ May I have more blessing than in all former years combined！ May I be happier as a wife； mother； sister； writer； mistress； friend！
But a symptom began to alarm her； and in the beginning of May； having consulted a local physician without being satisfied； she went to see a specialist in a northern suburb in whose judgement she had great confidence。 This occasion I recollect with extreme vividness。 I had been put to bed by my Father； in itself a noteworthy event。 My crib stood near a window overlooking the street； my parents' ancient four…poster； a relic of the eighteenth century； hid me from the door； but I could see the rest of the room。 After falling asleep on this particular evening； I awoke silently； surprised to see two lighted candles on the table； and my Father seated writing by them。 I also saw a little meal arranged。
While I was wondering at all this； the door opened； and my Mother entered the room； she emerged from behind the bed…curtains； with her bonnet on； having returned from her expedition。 My Father rose hurriedly； pushing back his chair。 There was a pause； while my Mother seemed to be steadying her voice； and then she replied； loudly and distinctly； 'He says it is' and she mentioned one of the most cruel maladies by which our poor mortal nature can be tormented。 Then I saw them hold one another in a silent long embrace； and presently sink together out of sight on their knees； at the farther side of the bed； whereupon my Father lifted up his voice in prayer。 Neither of them had noticed me； and now I lay back on my pillow and fell asleep。
Next morning； when we three sat at breakfast； my mind reverted to the scene of the previous night。 With my eyes on my plate； as I was cutting up my food； I asked； casually； 'What is？' mentioning the disease whose unfamiliar name I had heard from my bed。 Receiving no reply； I looked up to discover why my question was not answered； and I saw my parents gazing at each other with lamentable eyes。 In some way； I know not how； I was conscious of the presence of an incommunicable mystery； and I kept silence； though tortured with curiosity； nor did I ever repeat my inquiry。
About a fortnight later； my Mother began to go three times a week all the long way from Islington to Pimlico； in order to visit a certain practitioner； who undertook to apply a special treatment to her case。 This involved great fatigue and distress to her； but so far as I was personally concerned it did me a great deal of good。 I invariably accompanied her； and when she was very tired and weak； I enjoyed the pride of believing that I protected her。 The movement； the exercise； the occupation； lifted my morbid fears and superstitions like a cloud。 The medical treatment to which my poor Mother was subjected was very painful； and she had a peculiar sensitiveness to pain。 She carried on her evangelical work as long as she possibly could； continuing to converse with her fellow passengers on spiritual matters。 It was wonderful that a woman； so reserved and proud as she by nature was； could conquer so completely her natural timidity。 In those last months； she scarcely ever got into a railway carriage or into an omnibus； without presently offering tracts to the persons sitting within reach of her； or endeavouring to begin a conversation with some one of the sufficiency of the Blood of Jesus to cleanse the human heart from sin。 Her manners were so gentle and persuasive； she looked so innocent； her small； sparkling features were lighted up with so much benevolence； that I do not think she ever met with discourtesy or roughness。 Imitative imp that I was； I sometimes took part in these strange conversations； and was mightily puffed up by compliments paid； in whispers； to my infant piety。 But my Mother very properly discouraged this； as tending in me to spiritual pride。
If my parents； in their desire to separate themselves from the world； had regretted that through their happiness they seemed to have forfeited the Christian privilege of affliction； they could not continue to complain of any absence of temporal adversity。 Everything seemed to combine； in the course of this fatal year 1856； to harass and alarm them。 Just at the moment when illness created a special drain upon their resources； their slender income； instead of being increased； was seriously diminished。 There is little sympathy felt in this world of rhetoric for the silent sufferings of the genteel poor； yet there is no class that deserves a more charitable commiseration。
At the best of times； the money which my parents had to spend was an exiguous and an inelastic sum。 Strictly economical； proudin an old…fashioned mode now quite out of fashionto conceal the fact of their poverty； painfully scrupulous to avoid giving inconvenience to shop…people； tradesmen or servants； their whole financial career had to be carried on with the adroitness of a campaign through a hostile country。 But now； at the moment when fresh pressing claims were made on their resources； my Mother's small capital suddenly disappeared。 It had been placed； on bad advice （they were as children in such matters）； in a Cornish mine； the grotesque name of which； Wheal Maria； became familiar to my ears。 One day the river Tamar； in a playful mood； broke into Wheal Maria； and not a penny more was ever lifted from that unfortunate enterprise。 About the same time； a small annuity which my Mother had inherited also ceased to be paid。
On my Father's books and lectures； therefore； the whole weight now rested； and that at a moment when he was depressed and unnerved by anxiety。 It was contrary to his principles to borrow money； so that it became necessary to pay doctor's and chemist's bills punctually； and yet to carry on the little household with the very small margin。 Each artifice of economy was now exercised to enable this to be done without falling into debt； and every branch of expenditure was cut down； clothes； books； the little garden which was my Father's pride； all felt the pressure of new poverty。 Even our food； which had always been simple； now became Spartan indeed； and I am sure that my Mother often pretended to have no appetite that there might remain enough to satisfy my hunger。 Fortunately my Father was able to take us away in the autumn for six weeks by the sea in Wales； the expenses of this tour being paid for by a professional engagement； so that my seventh birthday was spent in an ecstasy of happiness； on golden sands； under a brilliant sky； and in sight of the glorious azure ocean beating in from an infinitude of melting horizons。 Here； too； my Mother； perched in a nook of the high rocks； surveyed the west； and forgot for a little while her weakness and the gnawing； grinding pain。
But in October； our sorrows seemed to close in upon us。 We went back to London； and for the first time in their married life； my parents were divided。 My Mother was now so seriously weaker that the omnibus journeys to Pimlico became impossible。 My Father could not leave his work and so my Mother