,Annehadreasontobelievethatshehadmomentsonlyoflanguoranddepression,tohoursofoccupationandenjoyment.Howcoulditbe?Shewatched,observed,reflected,andfinallydeterminedthatthiswasnotacaseoffortitudeorofresignationonly.Asubmissivespiritmightbepatient,astrongunderstandingwouldsupplyresolution,butherewassomethingmoreherewasthatelasticityofmind,thatdispositiontobecomforted,thatpowerofturningreadilyfromeviltogood,andoffindingemploymentwhichcarriedheroutofherself,whichwasfromnaturealone.ItwasthechoicestgiftofHeavenandAnneviewedherfriendasoneofthoseinstancesinwhich,byamercifulappointment,itseemsdesignedtocounterbalancealmosteveryotherwant.
Therehadbeenatime,MrsSmithtoldher,whenherspiritshadnearlyfailed.Shecouldnotcallherselfaninvalidnow,comparedwithherstateonfirstreachingBath.Thenshehad,indeed,beenapitiableobjectforshehadcaughtcoldonthejourney,andhadhardlytakenpossessionofherlodgingsbeforeshewasagainconfinedtoherbedandsufferingundersevereandconstantpainandallthisamongstrangers,withtheabsolutenecessityofhavingaregularnurse,andfinancesatthatmomentparticularlyunfittomeetanyextraordinaryexpense.Shehadweatheredit,however,andcouldtrulysaythatithaddonehergood.Ithadincreasedhercomfortsbymakingherfeelherselftobeingoodhands.Shehadseentoomuchoftheworld,toexpectsuddenordisinterestedattachmentanywhere,butherillnesshadprovedtoherthatherlandladyhadacharactertopreserve,andwouldnotuseherillandshehadbeenparticularlyfortunateinhernurse,asasisterofherlandlady,anursebyprofession,andwhohadalwaysahomeinthathousewhenunemployed,chancedtobeatlibertyjustintimetoattendher.“Andshe,”saidMrsSmith,“besidesnursingmemostadmirably,hasreallyprovedaninvaluableacquaintance.AssoonasIcouldusemyhandsshetaughtmetoknit,whichhasbeenagreatamusementandsheputmeinthewayofmakingtheselittlethread-cases,pin-cushionsandcard-racks,whichyoua