He had been gone little more than a fortnight when, on November 17, a
more severe attack came on; and though she was soon relieved from it,
she never entirely rallied, and was firmly convinced that this was
'the beginning of the end.' Her husband was summoned home, Judge
Coleridge taking a double portion of his work to set him at liberty,
and the truth began to dawn on the poor boys at Eton. 'Do you really
mean that there is anything so very, very dreadful to fear?' is
Coley's cry in his note one day, and the next, 'Oh, Papa, you cannot
mean that we may never, unless we come down to Feniton, see mamma
again. I cannot bear the thought of it. I trust most earnestly that
it is not the case. Do not hide anything from me, it would make me
more wretched afterwards. If it shall (which I trust in His infinite
mercy it will not) please Almighty God to take our dearest mamma unto
Himself, may He give us grace to bear with fortitude and resolution
the dreadful loss, and may we learn to live with such holiness here
that we may hereafter be united for ever in Heaven.' This letter is
marked twice over 'Only for Papa,' but the precaution was needless,
for Lady Patteson was accustoming all those about her to speak freely
and naturally of what she felt to be approaching. Her eldest
brother, Dr. Coleridge, was greatly comforting her by his
ministrations, and her sons were sent for; but as she did not ask for
them, it was thought best that they should remain at their Uncle
Frank's, at Ottery, until, on the evening of Sunday, the 27th, a
great change took place, making it evident that the end was drawing
near.

The sufferer was told that the boys were come, and was asked if she
would see them. She was delighted, and they came in, restraining
their grief while she kissed and blessed them, and then, throwing her