Chapter 18

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌⁠The twelve years, continued Mrs. Dean, following that dismal period were the happiest of my life: my greatest troubles in their passage rose from our little lady’s trifling illnesses, which she had to experience in common with all children, rich and poor. For the rest, after the first six months, she grew like a larch, and could walk and talk too, in her own way, before the heath blossomed a secon