and Miss Dragwell shut the window.
In a few minutes the report spread that Mrs Forster had gone out of her
senses; and the murder of Mr Spinney, a topic which was nearly
exhausted, was dismissed for the time to dwell and comment upon the
second catastrophe.

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER EIGHT.

Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend which is the mightier.
SHAKESPEARE.

"So far we have succeeded, my dear Mrs Forster," said Miss Dragwell; "I
will now return home, and come back as soon as I can with the
post-chaise. Mr Ramsden's servant shall come with me to conduct you to
the asylum, and I trust in a quarter of an hour to see you clear of
these foolish people of Overton, who think that you are the party in
fault: you had better remain in your room, and not appear again at the
window; the crowd will disperse when they are tired of watching:
good-bye, my dear Mrs Forster, good-bye."

Mrs Forster was in too sulky a humour to vouchsafe an answer; and Miss
Dragwell quitted the house. Betsy had taken advantage of the turmoil
and the supposed lunacy of her mistress, to gossip in the neighbourhood.
Nicholas Forster was in the shop, but took no notice of Miss Dragwell
as she passed through. He appeared to have forgotten all that had
occurred, and was very busy filing at his bench. There we must leave
him, and follow the motions of the mischief-loving Miss Dragwell.

Upon her return, the party collected at the parsonage considered that
they had proceeded far enough; but Miss Dragwell thought otherwise; she
had made up her mind that Mrs Forster should pass a day or two in the
Lunatic Asylum, and she felt assured that Mr Ramsden, through whose
assistance her intention must be accomplished, would not venture to
dispute her wishes.

Her father, with a loud Ha, ha, ha! proposed that Mr Spinney should
appear as a ghost by the bedside of Mrs Forster, wrapped up in a sheet,
with a He, he, he! and that thus the diversion should end; but this
project was overruled by Mr Spinney, who protested that nothing should
induce him again to trust himself, with a He, he, he! in the presence of
Mrs Forster.

Ramsden, although well acquainted with Doctor Beddington, who had charge
of the asylum, was not sure that he would be pleased with their freak,
and earnestly dissuaded his intended from proceeding any farther.

"It is useless to argue, my dear George, I am Quixote enough to revenge
the injuries of those who have been forced to subm