Page:The Poor Rich Man, and the Rich Poor Man.djvu/138

Rh hysterics, during which the man disappeared; and Juliet, who, wearied and hungry, had fallen asleep across the foot of the bed, awakened. She was terrified by Mrs. Smith's apparent unconsciousness and convulsive sobs, and she, obeying her first impulse, ran down to the Aikins. Harry and his wife, without any false scruples, went to Mrs. Smith's apartment, bidding Juliet to remain with Aunt Lottie. They found Mrs. Smith in hysterics, partly the effect of the gin, and partly of a sudden distress which had been communicated to. her by the open letter she held in her clinched hand. A filthy lace' cap stuck on the side of her head; her hair hung over her face; a tattered French cape and a soiled silk gown served to make more disgusting, but not to hide, the rags and dirt beneath them.

Our friends had scarcely seen the woman when they exchanged significant glances, for they both recognised in the wretched person before them, in spite of the dropsical cheeks, bloodshot eyes, and sharpened features, the playmate of their childhood—the beauty of their youthful days, Paulina Clark! Grieved and shocked were they: but they thought only of administering aid; and this being most judiciously done, Paulina soon after opened her eyes, and, recognising her old acquaintances, a new burst of emotion and a violent shrieking ensued.

No disease is so completely under the control of moral treatment as hysterics. Harry Aikin's