At last she ceased to come and see us altogether, and only wrote to know how my health was getting on.

My father, too, who had at the earlier periods of my absence from home traveled to the sea-side to watch the progress of my recovery as often as his professional engagements would permit, now kept away like my mother.
Even Uncle George, who had never been allowed a holiday to come and see me, but who had hitherto often written and begged me to write to him, broke off our correspondence.
I was naturally perplexed and amazed by these changes, and persecuted my aunt to tell me the reason of them.

At first she tried to put me off with excuses; then she admitted that there was trouble in our house; and finally she confessed that the trouble was caused by the illness of my sister.

When I inquired what that illness was, my aunt said it was useless to attempt to explain it to me.

I next applied to the servants.
One of them was less cautious than my aunt, and answered my question, but in terms that I could not comprehend.