that I owe such powers of locomotion as I possess, and the habits of
exertion that have been even more valuable to me.

When at last, after many weeks, nay months, of this watchfulness,
she broke down, so that her life was for a time in danger, the lack
of her bracing and tender care made my life very trying, after I
found myself transported to the nursery, scarcely understanding why,
accused of having by my naughtiness made ray poor mamma so ill, and
discovering for the first time that I was a miserable, naughty
little fretful being, and with nobody but Clarence and the housemaid
to take pity on me.

Nurse Gooch was a masterful, trustworthy woman, and was laid under
injunctions not to indulge Master Edward. She certainly did not err
in that respect, though she attended faithfully to my material
welfare; but woe to me if I gave way to a little moaning; and what I
felt still harder, she never said 'good boy' if I contrived to
abstain.

I hear of carpets, curtains, and pictures in the existing nurseries.
They must be palaces compared with our great bare attic, where
nothing was allowed that could gather dust. One bit of drugget by
the fireside, where stood a round table at which the maids talked
and darned stockings, was all that hid the bare boards; the walls
were as plain as those of a workhouse, and when the London sun did
shine, it glared into my eyes through the great unshaded windows.
There was a deal table for the meals (and very plain meals they
were), and two or three big presses painted white for our clothes,
and one cupboard for our toys. I must say that Gooch was strictly
just, and never permitted little Emily, nor Griff--though he was