Pickwick Abroad: or, The Tour in France — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

288 Pickwick Abroad. that I had caused—though indirectly—the death of him who would willingly have given his life to save mine, was maddening in the ex- treme. My poor aunt trembled for my reason, and did every thing in her power to console me. But, alas! a malignant fever seized upon her—its inroads were rapid as they were fatal—and in a few days she was consigned to the tomb! And there was I left—alone—in a foreign land—without a relative —without a friend. And I saw others happy in their domestic circles —and I heard of felicitous marriages——and I was an orphan—and alone! Oh! then all the misery of my wretched position was most acutely felt. A dangerous illness overtook me—and I was confined to my bed. I remember seeing the physicians enter my chamber, examine my pulse, shake their heads, and retreat to the farther end of the room, and consult in whispers. I remember that my head was shaved—Oh ! this I remember—and I knew that I was going mad. And then a ‘species of terrible resignation or rather, absolute indifference, took ossession of me—and [I said within myself, ‘‘The last glow of reason is fast expiring !”’ From that moment I recollect nothing until I was again convales- cent. I awoke—as it were from a long, long sleep—-and from a sad, sad dream—and my bed was surrounded by strangers. ‘“* Hush!” said an elder'y ladys stepping forward and putting her fore-finger to her lips. ‘‘ Repose yourself a little, my dear child— and you will soon be well.” ‘‘T have been very ill—have [ not?” was my first enquiry. ‘* Very—but you will soon be well,’’ answered a gentleman in black apparel. He was a physician. ‘‘Has my illness been long?’’? demanded I, endeavouring to sepa- rate the vague from the certain ideas which flitted across my brain, and ravel together a consecutive chain of events. ‘‘ Seven months,” replied the elderly female whom I subsequently found to be my nurse. }‘* Ah!” said I, a strange thought suddenly striking me: and then a sentiment of cunning immediately prompted me to appear as calm and tranquil as possible. To effect this important aim, the greatest exertions and nerve were necessary: I was however successful in my endeavours; and in a few days was enabled to remove from the place where I was then located to apartments which my nurse chose for me at Saint Germain- en-laye. The noiseand bustle of Paris were deemed uncongenial with the existing state of my mind. And, when I was once more my own mistress, the truth of al] that passed, and which I had more or less surmised, was ually broken to me; and I found, as I had suspected, that I had been the inmate of a madhouse! For seven long months had I raved in the Salpe- triere: but, Oh! what strange things had taken place within those same walls, during my unconsciousness of all that was passing around me! Let me here pause for a moment, ere I detail the almost incredible events which so materilaly interested my unhappy self! Gomi q) NOOO KS (c@