CHAPTER XVII.

hlifeandhappinessagain,norelationstoassistinthearrangementofperplexedaffairs,nohealthtomakealltherestsupportable.Heraccommodationswerelimitedtoanoisyparlour,andadarkbedroombehind,withnopossibilityofmovingfromonetotheotherwithoutassistance,whichtherewasonlyoneservantinthehousetoafford,andsheneverquittedthehousebuttobeconveyedintothewarmbath.Yet,inspiteofallthis,Annehadreasontobelievethatshehadmomentsonlyoflanguoranddepression,tohoursofoccupationandenjoyment.Howcoulditbe?Shewatched,observed,reflected,andfinallydeterminedthatthiswasnotacaseoffortitudeorofresignationonly.Asubmissivespiritmightbepatient,astrongunderstandingwouldsupplyresolution,butherewassomethingmoreherewasthatelasticityofmind,thatdispositiontobecomforted,thatpowerofturningreadilyfromeviltogood,andoffindingemploymentwhichcarriedheroutofherself,whichwasfromnaturealone.ItwasthechoicestgiftofHeavenandAnneviewedherfriendasoneofthoseinstancesinwhich,byamercifulappointment,itseemsdesignedtocounterbalancealmosteveryotherwant. Therehadbeenatime,MrsSmithtoldher,whenherspiritshadnearlyfailed.Shecouldnotcallherselfaninvalidnow,comparedwithherstateonfirstreachingBath.Thenshehad,indeed,beenapitiableobjectforshehadcaughtcoldonthejourney,andhadhardlytakenpossessionofherlodgingsbeforeshewasagainconfinedtoherbedandsufferingundersevereandconstantpainandallthisamongstrangers,withtheabsolutenecessityofhavingaregularnurse,andfinancesatthatmomentparticularlyunfittomeetanyextraordinaryexpense.Shehadweatheredit,however,andcouldtrulysaythatithaddonehergood.Ithadincreasedhercomfortsbymakingherfeelherselftobeingoodhands.Shehadseentoomuchoftheworld,toexpectsuddenordisinterestedattachmentanywhere,butherillnesshadprovedtoherthatherlandladyhadacharactertopreserve,andwouldnotuseherillandshehadbeenparticularlyfortunateinhernurse,asasisterofherlandlady,anursebyprofession,andwhohadalwaysahomeinthathousewhenunemployed,chancedtobeatlibertyjustintimetoattendher.“Andshe,”saidMrsSmith,“besidesnursingmemostadmirably,hasreallyprovedaninvaluableacquaintance.AssoonasIcouldusemyhandsshetaughtmetoknit,whichhasbeenagreatamusementandsheputmeinthewayofmakingtheselittlethread-cases,pin-cushionsandcard-racks,whichyoualwaysfindmesobusyabout,andwhichsupplymewiththemeansofdoingalittlegoodtooneortwoverypoorfamiliesinthisneighbourhood.Shehadalargeacquaintance,ofcourseprofessionally,amongthosewhocanaffordtobuy,andshedisposesofmymerchandise.Shealwaystakestherighttimeforapplying.Everybody’sheartisopen,youknow,whentheyhaverecentlyescapedfromseverepain,orarerecoveringtheblessingofhealth,andNurseRookethoroughlyunderstandswhentospeak.Sheisashrewd,intelligent,sensiblewoman.Hersisalineforseeinghumannatureandshehasafundofgoodsenseandobservation,which,asacompanion,makeherinfinitelysuperiortothousandsofthosewhohavingonlyreceived‘thebesteducationintheworld,’knownothingworthattendingto.Callitgossip,ifyouwill,butwhenNurseRookehashalfanhour’sleisuretobestowonme,sheissuretohavesomethingtorelatethatisentertainingandprofitable:somethingthatmakesoneknowone’sspeciesbetter.Onelikestohearwhatisgoingon,tobeaufaitastothenewestmodesofbeingtriflingandsilly.Tome,wholivesomuchalone,herconversation,Iassureyou,isatreat.” Anne,farfromwishingtocavilatthepleasure,replied,“Icaneasilybelieveit.Womenofthatclassha