VIII. LOOSE ABOUT THE WORLD
IX. AT LISCANNOR
X. AT ARDKILL
XI. ON THE CLIFFS
XII. CONCLUSION





VOLUME I.



INTRODUCTION.


At a private asylum in the west of England there lives, and has lived
for some years past, an unfortunate lady, as to whom there has long
since ceased to be any hope that she should ever live elsewhere. Indeed,
there is no one left belonging to her by whom the indulgence of such a
hope on her behalf could be cherished. Friends she has none; and her
own condition is such, that she recks nothing of confinement and does
not even sigh for release. And yet her mind is ever at work,--as is
doubtless always the case with the insane. She has present to her,
apparently in every waking moment of her existence, an object of intense
interest, and at that she works with a constancy which never wearies
herself, however fatiguing it may be to those who are near her. She is
ever justifying some past action of her life. "An eye for an eye," she
says, "and a tooth for a tooth. Is it not the law?" And these words she