LateinthesameautumnIreceivednewsfromLisbon，thatmysonwasconsideredbythephysiciansthere，tobedying：andIhurriedlyproceededtoLondontomakepreparationsforgoingouttojoinhim。WhileIwasthusanxiouslyoccupied，intelligencereachedmeofthedangerousillnessofLordMelbourne，andhediedaboutafortnightbeforeIsailedforPortugal。IreturnedtheensuingyeartoEngland。Mysonwasbetter，andaccompaniedmehome：mymotherwasthenill，butsheralliedandtemporarilyrecovered。IwentwithmysontoGermanyandBelgium；returnedagaintoEngland；andinJune，1851，mymotherdied。
Atherdeath，MrNortoninheritedthelife—interestofmyportionfrommyfather，whichhadnotbeensecuredtomeinanyway：andIinherited，——securedtomemostcarefully，guardedfromtherapacityofmyhusband，byeveryexpressioninmymother’swill，——andincomeforlifeof480l。AssoonasMrNortonfoundIhadthislegacy，andsixmonthsbeforeIreceivedonefarthingfromit，hewrotethathecouldnolongerpaymethesumsecured（asI
imagined）bythedeedofagreementwebothhadsigned；andhebeggedtoinquirewhatdeductionImyselfwouldproposeinmyallowance，——\"suchdeductiontocommencefromthetimethatIshouldreceiveanymoneyundermymother’swill。\"Ireplied，thatIcouldproposenodeduction；thatmymother’sbequestwasexpresslyintendedasanaddition，toekeoutthemeagreallowancehemademe，andnotasasubstituteforsuchallowance；thatyearsoflitigation，dispute，anddebt，theillnessofmyson，andmyconstantjourniesandresidencesabroad，inconsequenceofsuchillness，——hadcrippledmymeans；
thatmymother’sassistancewasintendedformeandformysons；（notforthehusbandwhohadruinedandwrongedmeinthedaysofmyyouth，whenalltheloveofmyfamily，andallthelawofEngland，Page79
failedtoprotectmeagainsthim）。MrNortonrejoined，thatwhatIwouldnotyield，hewouldtake；thatIshouldeitherconsenttohisdeducting200l。ayearashisadvantagefromthe480l。