340 INSANITY. 



me at supper, I entered into conversation with her, not 

 knowing at the time that she was insane, and not from the 

 tenor of her conversation inferring it. 



Music over, recitations began, and little fault would have 

 had to be found at the demeanour of the audience, even 

 on the hypothesis of their being sane. They seemed to be 

 moved by points and phases of varied interest, just as you 

 and I might have been moved. They sighed, and I think 

 a few wept, at an impersonation of Juliet. They laughed 

 immoderatelv at a certain humorous account of a certain 

 auction-sale of old bachelors, whereat all the old maids at- 

 tended, bidding furiously one against the other, each old 

 maid taking unto herself an old bachelor, carrying him away 

 across her shoulder, and disposing of him according to the 

 teaching of the proverb, that a man, and a fortiori a woman, 

 may do what he (she) likes with his (her) own. 



I heard no sighs where merriment should have been; I 

 heard no laughter at unseemly periods. Everything was 

 peaceable and orderly ; all patients and visitors alike seemed 

 bright and happy. The most insane-looking individuals I 

 saw there were two visitors ; one, a gentleman, a mild hand- 

 some-looking blond of benevolent aspect, who, on the prin- 

 ciple, I fancy, of like attracting unlike, which holds good of 

 personal attractiveness, though not of homoeopathy, had been 

 drawn away from the company of a demure ancient spinster, 

 whom he attended, by some irresistible force, down between 

 two magnificent-looking young lady visitors. Thence his 

 head and shoulders only just rising (like Aphrodite's from 

 the sea-foam) above the billowy upheavings of gauze and 

 gossamer, and God knows what, looked wildly anxious from 

 face to face : an evil-looking fellow, with long phiz, grizzly 

 moustache and imperial, who sat near (a patient, I think), 

 all the while teasing him. 



The other insane-looking individual was in love, I fancy ; 

 which, if made out, will account for his behaviour. At sup- 



