All knowledge is useful, I thought, and in time I shall understand running a steam-engine. As the women have been trusted with the dangerous thing, they may still continue to be, till I have leisure to learn the science of steam as applied to cooking.
After I had taken a survey of the kitchen the Deputy took me into the women's prison which led out of it.
The centre of the hollow square, in which the dormitories are built, looked like a huge block of glittering ice, so white were the washed walls of brick and stone. The black, grated doors of the cells, inserted into them, like the teeth of grinning demons, were ranged along the sides about two feet apart, tier after tier, five stories, one above another.
The Deputy led me along past the iron doors. I trembled and shrank back; but I had no idea of receding from my undertaking. I "screwed my courage to the sticking-point," and looked into the narrow, stone rooms; but it was many days before I could force myself to enter one.
I grew heart-sick, and faint with apprehension of unknown terrors at their cheerless aspect.
"What lodgings for human beings!" I exclaimed.
"They are not very pleasant," said the Deputy.
"If you were the one to blame for it I should certainly charge you with great inhumanity."
"I suppose you will think us very cruel sometimes."
"In this case I don't know as you can help it. You did not make these sleeping apartments for the prisoners. The public functionaries of the State may be thanked for showing such tender mercies as these."