But as the years
passed her malady increased; her presence became dangerous; in a
word, the gentleman, distinguished and noble, saw the advertisement
of my 'Calm Retreat,' my institution incomparable, and he wrote to
me. In a word, he liked my terms and brought to me his young
relative, so lovely and so unfortunate. Ah! he is a good man, this
officer, so gallant, so chivalrous; but she is ungrateful!"
"Ungrateful!"
"Ah, bah! yes; it is the way of lunatics! They ever imagine their
best friends to be their worst enemies. The poor, crazed creature
fancies that she is the sister-in-law of this officer illustrious!
She thinks that she is the widow of his elder brother, whom she
imagines he murdered, and that she is the mother of children, whom
she says he has abducted or destroyed, so that he may enjoy the
estate that is her widow's dower and their orphans' patrimony. That
is the reason why she insists on being called madame instead of
mademoiselle, and we indulge her when we think of it! "
"But all this is very singular!"
"Ah, bah! who can account for a lunatic's fancies? She fs the
maddest of the whole lot. Sometimes she used to become so violent
that we would have to restrain her. But lately, Doctor Wood tells
me, she is quite still; that we consider a bad sign; there is always
hope for a lunatic until they begin to sink into this state," said
the doctor, with an air of competency.
Pages:
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321