What attention she did give, however, made her so anxious on the subject that she took counsel with every lady of her acquaintance, and the more she talked about poor Matilda's condition the less leisure she had to think about it.
"It may be more mind than body, I'm afraid," said Aunt Theresa one afternoon, on our return from some visiting in which Matilda had refused to share.

"Mrs.Minchin says she knew a girl who went out of her senses when she was only two years older than Matilda, and it began with her refusing to go anywhere or see any one." Major Buller turned round on his chair with an anxious face, and a beetle transfixed by a needle in his hand.
"It was a very shocking thing," continued Aunt Theresa, taking off her bonnet; "for she had a great-uncle in Hanwell, and her grandfather cut his throat.

I suppose it was in the family." Major Buller turned back again, and pinned the beetle by its proper label.
"I suppose it was," said he dryly; "but as there is no insanity in my family or in yours that I'm aware of, Mrs.Minchin's case is not much to the point." "Mrs.O'Connor won't believe she's ill," sighed Aunt Theresa; "_she_ thinks it's all temper.

She says her own temper was unbearable till she had it knocked out of her at school." "Matilda's temper was good enough till lately," growled the Major.
"She says Dr.O'Connor's brother, who is the medical officer of a lunatic asylum somewhere in Tipperary," continued Aunt Theresa, "declares all mad women go out of their minds through ill-temper.

He's written a book about it." "Heaven defend me, mind and body, from the theories of that astute practitioner!" said Uncle Buller piously.
"It's all very well making fun of it, but everybody tells one that girls are more trouble than any number of boys.