132                                                                                [chap- X
 

CHAPTER X

1851

Illness and death of Annie at Malvern.

In the summer of 1850, when my sister Annie was nine years
old, her health began to break down. We went to Rams-
gate in October on her account^ but with no success. On
the 24th March, 1851, my father took Annie, with me for
her companion, under the charge of our old nurse Brodie,
to Malvern, to try the effect of the water cure, and in
a few days' time we were joined by our governess. Miss
Thorley. My mother could not come with us as she was
expecting to be confined in May.

Very shortly afterwards Annie fell ill of a fever, and died
on the 23rd April. My father was summoned to Malvern,
and arrived on the 17th April. I well remember his arrival
and how he flung himself on the sofa in an agony of grief.

Fanny Allen to her niece Elizabeth Wedgwood, at Jersey.
Dear Elizabeth, T^owni, Good Friday [18 A^ril 1851].
The accounts from Malvern are not so favourable
to-day as I had hoped. I behove Emma had more fears
than I, after Miss Thorley's letter this morning. You will
have the particulars of these two letters from Fanny Hens¬
leigh, who is to forward them to you. I write to-day by
Emma's wish to ask you to come to her by the first good
steamer. As I am here she is in no excessive hurry. Charles
is gone to Malvern, and Dr Gully's opinion last night was
" that in some respects Annie was better and in some worse,
but there is yet a chance." Poor Emma is very low, but
her health is not injured.    She is so afraid that this anxiety