“The conversation turned upon disorders of the senses; for Mrs. Strange has a female friend who is seized with them, from time to time, as other people might be seized with an ague. She had been on a visit at the house of Mrs. Strange, the day before, where she had met Mr. Bruce. When it was perceived that a fit of the disorder was coming on, Miss Strange took her home; for which extraordinary courage Mr. Bruce greatly blamed her.
“‘How,’ said he, ‘could you be sure of your life for a single moment? Suppose she had thought proper to run a pair of scissors into your eyes? Or had taken a fancy to cutting off one of your ears?’
“Miss Strange replied, that she never feared, for she always knew how to manage her.
“Mr. Bruce then inquired what had been the first symptom she had shewn of the return of her malady?
“Mrs. Strange answered, that the beginning of her wandering that evening, had been by abruptly coming up to her, and asking her whether she could make faces?
“‘I wish,’ said Mr. Bruce, ‘she had asked me! I believe I could have satisfied her pretty well that way!’
“‘O, she had a great desire to speak to you, sir,’ said Miss Strange, ‘she told me she had a great deal to say to you.’
“‘If,’ said Mr. Bruce, ‘she had come up to me, without any preface, and made faces at me,—I confess I should have been rather surprised!’
“‘Troth,’ said Mrs. Strange, ‘if we are not upon our guard, we are all of us mad when we are contradicted! for we are all of us so witty, in our own ideas, that we think every mon out of his head that does not see with our eyes. But when I tried to hold her, poor little soul, from running into the street, while we were waiting for the coach, she gave me such a violent scratch on the arm, that I piteously called out for help. See! here’s the mark.’
“‘Did she fetch blood,’ cried Mr. Bruce, in a tone of alarm; ‘if she did, you will surely go out of your own senses before a fortnight will be over! You may depend upon that! If you are bit by a wild cat, you will undoubtedly become crazy; and how much more if you are scratched by a crack-brained woman? I would advise you to go forthwith to the sea, and be well dipped. I assure you fairly I would not be in your situation.’