ived
me. Richard deceived me! _He_ deceived me!--oh, so cruelly! Who can I
trust? They all desert me. I am _all, all_ alone!" And she sat down; and
dropping her head upon her knees, she wept very bitterly.

When Mr. Wharton had again called the doctor from the room, he said to
him:

"Doctor, this does not seem to me such a hopeless case. How any sane
person could retain his senses in that awful scene, I cannot imagine; I
am sure I should soon go crazy myself. But could I once remove Miss
Edwards from these terrible associations, and place her in one of our
Eastern asylums, where she might have cheerful companionships, and
pleasant occupation for her mind and fingers, I doubt not she might be
completely restored."

The doctor thought it possible, but was not so sanguine on the subject
as Mr. Wharton, who, he said, had only seen the young lady in one of
her calmer moods. Still he by all means advised the trial. "We have no
hope of _cure_" said he, "in placing these lunatics in the County House;
the only object is to keep them from injuring themselves or others. They
are all of them from the families of the poor, who cannot afford to send
them to an Eastern asylum. This young lady was a stranger, and without
means, and so violent, at times, that restraint was absolutely
necessary; so that the only thing we could do with her was to place her
here till I could write to you."

"You did the very best that could be done under the circumstances, my
dear sir," answered Mr. Wharton; "but I sincerely hope the day is not
far distant when your State will possess a more comfortable home than
this for those afflicted as these poor creatures are. But I feel as if I
could not lose a moment in removing my young friend from this place; and
if you, doctor, will be so kind as to take the journey with me, and aid
me in the care of her, you shall be well rewarded for your loss of
time."

It was with no great difficulty that this undertaking was accomplished;
and in less than a fortnight from the time when Mr. Wharton found Miss
Edwards, caged like a wild beast in the County House at----, she was
placed at an asylum where every comfort surrounded her. It was not long
before she seemed quite at home amid these new scenes, and began to
interest herself in books and work; and though her mind never fully
regained its tone, she yet seemed tranquil and happy. But the scenes of
trial through which she had passed had done their work upon her
con