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That　night　he　could　not　sleep。　He　lay　wondering　what　would　be　the　next　foul　practice；　and　how　he　should　parry　it。

He　wrote　next　morning　to　the　Commissioners　that　two　of　their　number；　unacquainted　with　the　previous　proceedings　of　the　Board；　had　been　surprised　into　endorsing　an　order　of　transfer　to　an　asylum　bearing　a　very　inferior　character　to　Dr。　Wycherley's；　the　object　of　this　was　clearly　foul　play。　Accordingly；　Dr。　Wolf　had　already　tried　to　poison　his　reason；　by　drugging　his　beer　at　dinner。　He　added　that　Dr。　Wycherley　had　now　signed　a　certificate　of　his　sanity；　and　implored　the　Board　to　inspect　it；　and　discharge　him　at　once；　or　else　let　a　solicitor　visit　him　at　once；　and　take　the　requisite　steps　towards　a　public　inquiry。

While　waiting　anxiously　for　the　answer；　it　cost　him　all　his　philosophy　to　keep　his　heart　from　eating　itself。　But　he　fought　the　good　fight　of　Reason；　he　invited　the　confidences　of　the　quieter　mad　people；　and　established　a　little　court；　and　heard　their　grievances；　and　by　impartial　decisions　and　good　humour　won　the　regard　of　the　moderate　patients　and　of　the　attendants；　all　but　three；　Rooke；　the　head　keeper；　a　morose　burly　ruffian；　Hayes；　a　bilious　subordinate；　Rooke's　shadow；　and　Vulcan；　a　huge　mastiff　that　would　let　nobody　but　Rooke　touch　him；　he　was　as　big　as　a　large　calf；　and　formidable　as　a　small　lion；　though　nearly　toothless　with　age。　He　was　let　loose　in　the　yard　at　night；　and　was　an　element　in　the　Restraint　system；　many　a　patient　would　have　tried　to　escape　but　for　Vulcan。　He　was　also　an　invaluable　howler　at　night；　and　so　cooperated　with　Dr。　Wolf's　bugs　and　fleas　to　avert　sleep；　that　vile　foe　to　insanity　and　all　our　diseases；　private　asylums　included。

Alfred　treated　Mrs。　Archbold　with　a　distant　respect　that　tried　her　hard。　But　that　able　woman　wore　sweetness　and　unobtrusive　kindness；　and　bided　her　time。

In　Drayton　House　the　keeperesses　eclipsed　the　keepers　in　cruelty　to　the　poorer　patients。　No　men　except　Dr。　Wolf　and　his　assistant　had　a　pass…key　into　their　department；　so　there　was　nobody　they　could　deceive；　nobody　they　held　worth　the　trouble。　In　the　absence　of　male　critics　they　showed　their　real　selves；　and　how　wise　it　is　to　trust　that　gentle　sex　in　the　dark　with　irresponsible　power　over　females。　With　unflagging　patience　they　applied　the　hourly　torture　of　petty　insolence；　needless　humiliation；　unreasonable　refusals　to　the　poor　madwomen；　bored　them　with　the　poisoned　gimlet；　and　made　their　hearts　bleeding　pin…cushions。　But　minute　cruelty　and　wild　caprice　were　not　enough　for　them；　though　these　never　tired　nor　rested；　they　must　vilify　them　too　with　degrading　and　savage　names。　Billingsgate　might　have　gone　to　school　to　Drayton　House。　_Inter　alia；_　they　seemed　in　love　with　a　term　that　Othello　hit　upon；　only　they　used　it　not　once；　but　fifty　times　a　day；　and　struck　decent　women　with　it　on　the　face；　like　a　scorpion　whip；　and　then　the　scalding　tears　were　sure　to　run　in　torrents　down　their　silly；　honest；　burning　cheeks。　But　this　was　not　all；　they　had　got　a　large　tank　in　a　flagged　room；　nominally　for　cleanliness　and　cure；　but　really　for　bane　and　torture。　For　the　least　offence；　or　out　of　mere　wantonness；　they　would　drag　a　patient　stark　naked　across　the　yard；　and　thrust　her　bodily　under　water　again　and　again；　keeping　her　down　till　almost　gone　with　suffocation；　and　dismissing　her　more　dead　than　alive　with　obscene　and　insulting　comments　ringing　in　her　ears；　to　get　warm　again　in　the　cold。　This　my　ladies　called　〃tanking。〃

In　the　ordinary　morning　ablutions　they　tanked　without　suffocating。　But　the　immersion　of　the　whole　body　in　cold　water　was　of　itself　a　severe　trial　to　those　numerous　patients　in　whom　the　circulation　was　weak；　and　as　medical　treatment；　hurtful　and　even　dangerous。　Finally；　these　keeperesses；　with　diabolical　insolence　and　cruelty；　would　bathe　twenty　patients　in　this　tank；　and　then　make　them　drink　that　foul　water　for　their　meals。

〃The　dark　places　of　the　land　are　full　of　horrible　cruelty。〃

One　day　they　tanked　so　savagely　that　Nurse　Eliza；　after　months　of　sickly　disapproval；　came　to　the　new　redresser　of　grievances；　and　told。

What　was　he　to　do？　He　seized　the　only　chance　of　redress；　he　ran　panting　with　indignation　to　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　blushing　high；　said　imploringly；　〃Mrs。　Archbold；　you　used　to　be　kindhearted〃　and　could　say　no　more　for　something　rising　in　his　throat。

Mrs。　Archbold　smiled　encouragingly　on　him；　and　said　softly；　〃I　am　the　same　I　always　wasto　you　Alfred。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　then　pray　send　for　Nurse　Eliza；　and　hear　the　cruelties　that　are　being　done　to　the　patients　within　a　yard　of　us。〃

〃You　had　better　tell　me　yourself；　if　you　want　me　to　pay　any　attention。〃

〃I　can't。　I　don't　know　how　to　speak　to　a　lady　of　such　things　as　are　done　here。　The　brutes！　the　cowardly　she…devils！　Oh；　how　I　should　like　to　kill　them。〃

Mrs。　Archbold　laughed　a　little　at　his　enthusiasm　（fancy　caring　so　what　was　done　to　a　pack　of　women）；　and　sent　for　Nurse　Eliza。　She　came　and　being　questioned　told　Mrs。　Archbold　more　than　she　had　Alfred。　〃And；　ma'am；〃　said　she；　whimpering；　〃they　have　just　been　tanking　one　they　had　no　business　to　touch；　it　is　Mrs。　Dale；　her　that　is　so　close　on　her　confinement。　They　tanked　her　cruel　they　did；　and　kept　her　under　water　till　she　was　nigh　gone。　I　came　away；　I　couldn't　stand　it。〃

Alfred　was　walking　about　in　a　fury；　and　Nurse　Eliza；　in　making　this　last　revolting　communication；　lowered　her　voice　for　him　not　to　hear；　but　his　senses　were　quick。　I　think　he　heard；　for　he　turned　and　came　quickly　to　them。

〃Mrs。　Archbold；　you　are　strong　and　bravefor　a　woman；　oh；　do　go　in　to　them　and　take　them　by　the　throat　and　shake　the　life　out　of　them；　the　merciless；　cowardly　beasts！　Oh　that　I　could　be　a　woman　for　an　hour；　or　they　could　be　men；　I'd　soon　have　my　foot　on　some　of　the　wretches。〃

Mrs。　Archbold　acted　Ignition。　〃Come　with　me　both　of　you；〃　she　said；　and　they　were　soon　in　the　female　department。　Up　came　keeperesses　directly；　smirking　and　curtseying　to　her；　and　pretending　not　to　look　at　Adonis。　〃Which　of　you　nurses　tanked　Mrs。　Dale？〃　said　she　sternly。

〃'Twasn't　I；　ma'am；　'twasn't　I。〃

〃Oh；　fie！〃　said　Eliza　to　one；　〃you　know　you　were　at　the　head　of　it。〃

She　pointed　out　two　as　the　leaders。　The　Archbold　instantly　had　them　seized　by　the　otherswho；　with　treachery　equal　to　their　cowardice；　turned　eagerly　against　their　fellow…culprits；　to　make　friends　with　Powerand；　inviting　all　the　sensible　maniacs　who　had　been　tanked；　to　assist　or　inspect；　she　bared　her　own　statuesque　arms；　and；　ably　aided；　soon　plunged　the　offenders；　screaming；　crying；　and　whining；　like　spaniel　bitches　whipped；　under　the　dirty　water。　They　swallowed　some；　and　appreciated　their　own　acts。　Then　she　forced　them　to　walk　twice　round　the　yard　with　their　wet　clothes　clinging　to　them；　hooted　by　the　late　victims。

〃There；〃　said　Alfred；　〃let　that　teach　you　men　will　not　own　hyaenas　in　petticoats　for　women。〃

Poor　Alfred　took　all　the　credit　of　this　performance；　but　in　fact；　when　the　Archbold　invited　him　to　bear　a　hand；　he　showed　the　white　feather。

_〃I_　won't　touch　the　blackguardesses；〃　said　he；　haughtily　turning　it　off　on　the　score　of　contempt。　_〃You_　give　it　them！　Again；　again！　Brava！〃

Mosaic　retribution　completed；　Mrs。　Archbold　told　the　nurses　if　ever　〃tanking　recurred　she　would　bundle　the　whole　female　staff　into　the　street；　and　then　have　them　indicted　by　the　Commissioners。〃

These　virtuous　acts　did　Edith　Archbold　for　love　for　a　young　man。　Whether　mad　women　or　sane；　women　pregnant；　or　the　reverse；　were　tanked　or　not；　she　cared　at　heart　no　more　than　whether　sheep　were　washed　or　no　in　Ettrick's　distant　dale。　She　was　retiring　with　a　tender　look　at　Alfred；　and　her　pulse　secretly　unaccelerated　by　sheep…washing　of　she…wolves；　when　her　grateful　favourite　appealed　to　her　again：

〃Dear　Mrs。　Archbold；　shall　we　punish　and　not　comfort？　This　poor　Mrs。　Dale！〃

The　Archbold　could　have　boxed　his　ears。　〃Dear　boy；〃　she　murmured　tenderly；　〃you　teach　us　all　our　duty。〃　She　visited　the　tanked　one；　found　her　in　a　cold　room　after　it；　shivering　like　ague；　and　her　teeth　chattering。　Mrs。　Archbold　had　her　to　the　fire；　and　got　her　warm　clothes　and　a　pint　of　wine；　and　probably　saved　her　life　and　her　child'sfor　love　of　a　young　man。

Why　I　think　Mrs。　Dale　would　otherwise　have　left　this　shifting　scene；　Mrs。　Carey；　the　last　woman　in　her　condition　they　tanked　and　then　turned　into　a　flagged　cell　that　only　wanted　one　frog　of　a　grotto；　was　found　soon　after　moribund；　on　which　they　bundled　her　out　of　the　asylum　to　die。　She　did　die　next　day；　at　home；　but　murdered　by　the　asylum；　and　they　told　the　Commissioners　she　died　through　her　friends　taking　her　away　from　the　asylum　too　soon。　The　Commissioners　had　nothing　to　do　but　believe　this；　and　did　believe　it。　Inspectors　who　visit　a　temple　of　darkness；　lies；　cunning；　and　hypocrisy；　four　times　a　year；　know　mighty　little　of　what　goes　on　there　the　odd　three　hundred　and　sixty…one　days；　five　hours；　forty…eight　minutes；　and　fifty…seven　seconds。*

*　Arithmetic　of　my　boyhood。　I　hear　the　world　revolves　some　minutes　quicker　now。

〃Now；　Alfred；〃　said　Mrs。　Archbold；　〃I　can't　be　everywhere；　or　know　everything；　so　you　come　to　me　when　anything　grieves　you；　and　let　me　be　the　agent　of　your　humanity。〃

She　said　this　so　charmingly　he　was　surprised　into　kissing　her　fair　hand；　then　blushed；　and　thanked　her　warmly。　Thus　she　established　a　chain　between　them。　When　he　let　too　long　elapse　without　appealing　to　her；　she　would　ask　his　advice　about　the　welfare　of　this　or　that　patient；　and　so　she　cajoled　him　by　the　two　foibles　she　had　discerned　in　himhis　vanity　and　his　humanity。

Besides　Alfred；　there　were　two　patients　in　Drayton　House　who　had　never　been　insane；　a　young　man；　and　an　old　woman；　of　whom　anon。　There　were　also　three　ladies　and　one　gentleman；　who　had　been　deranged；　but　had　recovered　years　ago。　This　little　incident；　Recovery；　is　followed　in　a　public　asylum　by　instant　discharge；　but；　in　a　private　one；　Money；　not　Sanity；　is　apt　to　settle　the　question　of　egress。　The　gentleman's　case　was　scarce　credible　in　the　nineteenth　century：　years　ago；　being　undeniably　cracked；　he　had　done　what　Dr。　Wycherley　told　Alfred　was　a　sure　sign　of　sanity：　_i。e。；_　he　had　declared　himself　insane；　and　had　even　been　so　reasonable　as　to　sign　his　own　order　and　certificates；　and　so　imprison　himself　illegally；　but　with　perfect　ease；　no　remonstrance　against　that　illegality　from　the　guardians　of　the　law！　When　he　got　what　plain　men　call　sane；　he　naturally　wanted　to　be　free；　and　happening　to　remember　he　alone　had　signed　the　order　of　imprisonment；　and　the　imaginary　doctor's　certificates；　he　claimed　his　discharge　from　illegal　confinement。　Answer：　〃First　obtain　a　legal　order　for　your　discharge。〃　On　this　he　signed　an　order　for　his　discharge。　〃That　is　not　a　legal　order。〃〃It　is　as　legal　as　the　order　on　which　I　am　here。〃　〃Granted；　but；　legally　or　not；　the　asylum　has　got　you；　the　open　air　has　not　got　you。　Possession　is　ninety…nine　points　of　Lunacy　law。　Die　your　own　illegal　prisoner；　and　let　your　kinsfolk　eat　your　land；　and　drink　your　consols；　and　bury　you　in　a　pauper's　shroud〃　All　that　Alfred　could　do　for　these　victims　was　to　promise　to　try　and　get　them　out　some　day；　D。V。　But　there　was　a　weak…minded　youth；　Francis　Beverley；　who　had　the　honour　to　be　under　the　protection　of　the　Lord　C