Page:Blanchard on L. E. L.pdf/183

Rh occurs in the whole account to weaken the testimony as to the general health and good spirits of L. E. L., which her own letters had given. The poetical image of "hopes breaking like the swelling waves," has been already alluded to, as a mere literary embellishment that indicates no feeling at all; the statement of Emily Bailey, that her mistress was, the night before, "affected at the thought of parting with her," is of more importance. Yet this parting could occasion no sudden shock; it was foreknown, and, as well as might be, prepared for; it was mentioned in the letter to Mrs. Thomson, which also says, that the person, "though most civil and obliging, and of superior respectability," had "never been in such a capacity before, and was therefore no workwoman, no cook, no washer." Now it has all along been seen that the mistress of the castle stood in no particular need of civil and obliging persons, but that she was much troubled by the want of an efficient servant—one possessing the "invaluable accomplishments" which Emily Bailey had not.

It is hardly, therefore, to be inferred, that this separation, though naturally affecting, could have had any remote connection with the cause of death, unless, indeed, by tending, with other things, to hasten on a nervous or spasmodic attack; it could not have suddenly originated the impulse of self-destruction; it could not have been sufficient to awaken and set in action the idea, even though it had held previously a slumbering existence in the mind. Add to this the important assurance, that no differences with her husband on this or any other subject, had suddenly affected her; Mr. Maclean having stated upon oath, that "an unkind word had never passed between them." In his letter