Page:Illustrations of Madness.djvu/46

Rh establishment, Augusta may first be described. She is about 36 years of age, of the middle stature, and her countenance is distinguished by the sharpness of its features. In person she is not fleshy, nor can she be said to be a thin woman ; she is not full-breasted. Ordinarily dressed, as a country tradesman’s wife, in black, without powder. Augusta seldom works the machine, but frequently goes abroad to correspond with other gangs at the West end of the town. Of agreeable deportment, and at first seems very friendly and cajoling ; but when she finds that she cannot influence and convince, becomes exceedingly spiteful and malignant. Her object is to influence women by her brain-sayings ; and she states herself to be the chief of this department. Within the last seven years the virulence of her temper has been considerably exasperated.

Charlotte, the next in review, is about the