THE MONOMANIAC. 207 



My words wrung his heart, but it was a necessary cruelty, for he 

 became quiet immediately, and, with a look and tone which ever 

 added interest to his words, begged me to proceed. I complied, and 

 briefly stated the facts which ought to weigh with him as inducements 

 to go. I adverted to the state of lassitude his confinement had 

 brought on, and reminded him that if his health failed, his madness 

 would be deprived of an attentive guardian. Less of vacancy was in 

 his eye than customary, as he replied 



" Then, sir, there would be one sufferer less in the world ; there 

 would be one sufferer more about to leave it, as I could not survive 

 myself; but it would be suicide not to take every means for the pre- 

 servation of life in my power ; so, if they will admit me, delirium 

 and all, have with you." 



"Psha!" cried I, "cannot you leave your insanity for one night? 

 I will answer with my life, that it shall be taken every care of until 

 you return." 



"On that condition I will go," said Hill, "but we must employ a 

 little finesse to separate us : I tell you what do, if the trouble be not 

 too great, and my liberty in asking you not too impertinent, get up, 

 softly, on that stool, and close the shutters; I shall then think that it 

 is night, and compose myself for slumber. The instant I have dropped 

 off, shall be the signal for our departure on tiptoe ; we can send 

 hither the keeper, and hey for the temple of Thespia !" 



I expressed my approbation of this plan, and obeyed him in every 

 particular. In a few moments I had the satisfaction to hear him say, 

 " I'm as fast as a church, can you see me ? " This the darkness pre- 

 vented me from doing, so I answered accordingly, and he replied, in 

 a whisper, " Never mind, you know your way to the door, off with 

 your shoes and follow me out/' We effected our retreat with great 

 caution, but when, on reaching the anti-room, the light of day once 

 more reflected its lustre upon us, forming a vivid contrast to the, 

 gloom we had quitted, Hill turned to look into his dreary apartment, 

 and with a sigh exclaimed, " How sadly is the lot of life divided ! 

 One man glides through an evening at the theatre, hilarity sporting 

 round him, music melting his soul, splendour delighting his eye, and 

 the poet's outpourings touching his heart ; whilst another lulls his 

 distempered senses to quiet in darkness, and in a mad-house : solitude 

 his only companion ; gloom the only light that meets his gaze, and 

 his own groans the only music that salutes his ear. Oh, fate ! where, 

 where is your impartiality ? " 



I strongly rebuked the unfortunate man for dwelling on such 

 thoughts at that time, and hurried him away. Once in the open air, 

 his spirits rose wonderfully, and he indulged in that species of gossip 

 which never springs but from a gay humour. His wife and family, 

 who occupied a residence near the asylum to enable them to visit 

 him more frequently and conveniently, were rejoiced on perceiving 

 his cheerfulness, and used every exertion to promote it. Hill seconded 

 their endeavours, caressed his wife, played with the children, and 

 conversed with his friends in a style so natural, that one of them 

 called me apart, and suggested a postponement of our experiment ; 

 adding, that the sudden change of scene which Hill had experienced, 



