Page:Memoir and correspondence of Caroline Herschel (1876).djvu/154

130 were spent in walking with me through his library and workrooms, pointing with anxious looks to every shelf and drawer, desiring me to examine all and to make memorandums of them as well as I could. He was hardly able to support himself, and his spirits were so low, that I found difficulty in commanding my voice so far as to give him the assurance he should find on his return that my time had not been misspent.

When I was left alone I found that I had no easy task to perform, for there were packets of writings to be examined which had not been looked at for the last forty years. But I did not pass a single day without working in the library as long as I could read a letter without candlelight, and taking with me papers to copy, &c., &c., which employed me for best part of the night, and thus I was enabled to give my brother a clear account of what had been done at his return.

May 1st.—But he returned home much worse than he went, and for several days hardly noticed my handiworks.

June 21st.—I went with my brother to town. He was to sit to Mr. Artaud. We remained till Friday, whilst Lady Herschel entertained the Wilson family at home, who were attending the funeral of Miss Wilson at Upton. July 8th. We thought my brother was dying. On the 9th he was persuaded to be blooded in the arm which something relieved him.

Aug. 10th.—My brother and Lady H. took me with them to town.

Aug. 11th.—We went to the Bank and did what was thought necessary.

Aug. 12th.—I went with Lady H. to see my brother's portrait, and ordered a copy for myself.

Aug. 25th.—

Mem.—The 13th we came home, and one day passes like