On the other hand, in the ordinary course of nature, not one
half of that life had yet elapsed. What trials might the future have in
store for me? and what protection against them would the better part of
my nature be powerful enough to afford?
"While I was still troubled by these doubts, the measure of my disasters
was filled by an attack of illness which threatened me with death. My
medical advisers succeeded in saving my life--and left me to pay the
penalty of their triumph by the loss of one of my senses.
"At an early period of my convalescence, I noticed one day, with languid
surprise, that the voices of the doctors, when they asked me how I had
slept and if I felt better, sounded singularly dull and distant. A few
hours later, I observed that they stooped close over me when they had
something important to say. On the same evening, my day nurse and my
night nurse happened to be in the room together. To my surprise, they had
become so wonderfully quiet in their movements, that they opened the door
or stirred the fire, without making the slightest noise. I intended to
ask them what it meant; I had even begun to put the question, when I was
startled by another discovery relating this time to myself. I was certain
that I had spoken--and yet, I had not heard myself speak! As well as my
weakness would let me, I called to the nurses in my loudest tones. "Has
anything happened to my voice?" I asked.
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