The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 221: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE PRISONER 203 she wore a cotton handkerchief tied around her head. Blue woollen stockings and coarse shoes completed her garb. Her appearance was, however, cleanly, and notwithstanding the poverty of her attire, there was a certain neatness in it which impressed the beholder with the idea that she had seen better days. “Ah! poor Crazy Jane,” said the baronet, in a low tone and with a compassionating look, as he beheld the woman stand up from the opposite side of the fence. “‘ A penny for poor Crazy Jane? ”’ she said, thrusting her skinny arm between the palings. “You know, Jane,” said Sir William Stanley, with a benevolent and pitying smile, ‘‘ that I never give you a penny;”’ at the same time he drew forth his purse. “No, true!” ejaculated the woman. ‘ I remember now. Sir William Stanley is always charitable, and that is the reason I so seldom come near the hall. I don’t like to intrude on good nature. Ah, dear me! I was not always a poor wandering outcast,”’ and then drawing back her hand from betwixt the palings, she pressed it to her brow. “Poor creature,” said the baronet. ‘‘ Here are five shillings for you.” She did not, however, seem to hear him, but with her hand still pressed to her forehead, she muttered incoherently, to herself; then at length speaking in a louder tone, she said, “Ah! I have got something more upon my mind; I wish I could explain it, but I cannot. It is not the same thing that has haunted me so long, — no, it is something new; but alas! I cannot —I cannot,” and the poor creature shook her head despondingly, as if she deeply felt her ina- bility to give lucid expression to some idea that was upper- most in her mind. “ Here are the five shillings, Jane,’”’ said the baronet, and he thrust them through the fence. “‘ Heaven’s blessing upon you!” murmured the afflicted woman, and tears trickled down her wasted countenance; then, taking the money, she passed abruptly away and was soon out of sight. “She is as mad as ever, poor creature,” said the captain. “I remember her from my boyhood.” ‘“‘ Yes, and I remember her for many, many years,’’ added CORNICLOO <S) (C(O) im