e will have much pleasure in acceding to
her request to preach on behalf of the Association for the Blind on
Sunday morning, 23d July, at Whitehall.

In reply to an appeal to Mr. Ruskin, made somewhat later, she received
the following characteristic answer:

DENMARK HILL, S.E., _2d September 1871_.

MADAM--I am obliged by your letter, and I deeply sympathise with
all the objects of the Institution over which you preside. But one
of my main principles of work is that every one must do their best
and spend their all in their own work, and mine is with a much
lower race of sufferers than you plead for--with those who "have
eyes and see not."--I am, madam, your faithful servant, J. RUSKIN.

The Lady President of the Association for Promoting the Welfare of
the Blind.

In the autumn of 1871 Bessie joined a great gathering of the Gilbert
family at Heversham for the celebration of the marriage of the rector,
their youngest brother, the "Tom" of early days. She returned to spend
a few months only in Queen Anne Street, for she and two sisters had
taken a house in Stanhope Place, Hyde Park, which was to be their future
home.

The Queen Anne Street house was associated in many ways with Bessie's
life and work in London, with the visits to her of the blind workpeople,
with the early days of the Association, with the growth and development
of the objects that had engrossed her life. Perhaps it was dearer to her
than either the Oxford or the Chichester home. Certainly the wrench of
separation was more painful than any previous one had been; and she had
less hope and energy for the unknown future that was before her.

When the change of house had been accomplished she paid a visit to Mrs.
Bowles, at Milton Hill, but this did little to restore her exhausted
energy. During May and June 1872 there was a marked deterioration in her
condition; she walked with greater difficulty, could not rise from a
chair without assistance, and before the end of June had to be carried
up and down stairs. She went to church for the last time early in June,
driving to All Saints, Norfolk Square, and walking home.

Greatly alarmed at her condition, the family now turned in many
directions for the help and advice of eminent medical men. Sir William
Jenner took perhaps the most hopeful view. He thought it not impossible
that the nerves of motion might regain power, and prescrib