s there?" inquired
I.

"Oh! you've come to yourself again," said a gruff voice; "then I'll give
you a little daylight."

He took down a shutter which covered the whole of the window, and a
flood of light poured in, which blinded me. I shut my eyes, and by
degrees admitted the light until I could bear it. I looked at the
apartment: the walls were bare and white-washed. I was on a truckle
bed. I looked at the window--it was closed up with iron bars. "Why,
where am I?" inquired I of the man, with alarm.

"Where are you?" replied he; "why, in Bedlam!"

CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR.

AS O'BRIEN SAID, IT'S A LONG LANE THAT HAS NO TURNING--I AM RESCUED, AND
HAPPINESS POURS IN UPON ME AS FAST AS MISERY BEFORE OVERWHELMED ME.

The shock was too great--I fell back on my pillow insensible. How long
I lay, I know not, but when I recovered, the keeper was gone, and I
found a jug of water and some bread by the side of the bed. I drank the
water, and the effect it had upon me was surprising. I felt that I
could get up, and I rose: my arms had been unpinioned during my swoon.

It was about noon that the medical people, attended by the keepers and
others, came into my apartment.

"Is he quite quiet?"

"O Lord! yes, sir, as quiet as a lamb," replied the man who had before
entered.

I then spoke to the medical gentleman, begging him to tell why, and how,
I had been brought here. He answered mildly and soothingly, saying that
I was there at the wish of my friends, and that every care would be
taken of me; that he was aware that my paroxysms were only occasional,
and that, during the time that I was quiet, I should have every
indulgence that could be granted, and that he hoped that I soon should
be perfectly well, and be permitted to leave the hospital. I replied by
stating who I was, and how I had been taken ill. The doctor shook his
head, advised me to lie down as much as possible, and then quitted me to
visit the other patients.

As I afterwards discovered, my uncle had had me confined upon the plea
that I was a young man, who was deranged with an idea that his name was
Simple, and that he was the heir to the title and estates; that I was
very troublesome at times, forcing my way into his house and insulting
the servants, but in every other respect was harmless; that my paroxysms
generally ended in a violent fever, and that it was more from the fear
of my coming to some harm, than from any ill-will towards the poor you