"I think you had better be told first what has happened." Then, with her bleak face looking unmeaningly out of the window, she continued, in an even and mechanical voice: "I had better state everything that occurred just as it occurred.

This morning I was clearing away the breakfast things, my sisters were both somewhat unwell, and had not come down.

My brother had just gone out of the room, I believe, to fetch a book.

He came back again, however, without it, and stood for some time staring at the empty grate.

I said, 'Were you looking for anything I could get ?' He did not answer, but this constantly happens, as he is often very abstracted.