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I therefore give my readers the few additional facts I had reserved for a future article, such as I had expected I should have an opportunity to give to the public in a rejoinder to his reply. But since he declines meeting my artillery in open combat, I preserve it in this form until called for.

After visiting the wards I returned to the reception-room where Mrs. Ranney entertained me until called to their lunch.

She then politely inquired.:

"Won't you, Mrs. Packard, take lunch with us?"

"Yes Mrs. Ranney, I should be happy to do so."

At the same time commencing to take off my bonnet. Seeing this, she remarked:

"There is no neccessity -sic- for removing your bonnet, Mrs. Packed. Can't you eat with it on? "

"Yes, I can eat with it on without the least inconvenience, as I often do at hotels, as our present style of bonnets is little more than simply a head-dress."

When I had become seated by her side at the table, and caught one glimpse of the cold, forbidding frown of her husband, seated opposite her, I thought I could then account for this act, as well as the extreme nervous agitation which caused her hands to tremble so very perceptibly.

She knew she had incurred her husband's displeasure in even allowing me to come to the table at all. Still she could not wholly approve of her husband's course towards me, fearing it might be impolitic to treat me thus rudely.

The Doctor, however, firmly persisted in his uncourteous conduct -- helping Mrs. Darwin, who sat at the other side of Mrs. Ranney, most politely and attentively to everything upon the table, but offered me nothing. He became so deeply absorbed in conversation with Mrs. Darwin that he seemed oblivious to everything, but to bestow upon her a "feast of reason and flow of soul," as well as a feast of table luxuries.

Mrs. Ranney carried out her programme also by passing everything to me which her husband offered to Mrs. Darwin, although still with a very trembling hand.

The Doctor, however, directed the eyes of four young gentlemen, who sat at the table and to whom Mrs. Ranney had given me an introduction, to me with a smile, as he finished one sentence in a very significant tone showing unmistakably for whom it was meant:

"The Legislature will reject these wise judicious bills, and pass others! "

The last three words were uttered in such a quick, cross, snappish tone that he for once forgot the gentleman and let his angry feelings boil over. I returned their smiles, as much as to say:

"I understand who that expression is meant for."

Doctor and Mrs. Ranney, Mrs. Darwin and myself all met in the rotunda as we left the table, where I, addressing Mrs. Darwin, said:

"How shall we get back to the village -- the 'bus has gone back, and we cannot walk so far?"

Dr. Ranney replied, "I will take you back, Mrs. Darwin in the asylum carriage."

"But how shall I get back?" I repeated, still looking at Mrs. Darwin, "I cannot walk so far this extremely hot day."

No response of any kind, from either of the trio, was made to this inquiry, and after a short silence Doctor Ranney walked off. I broke this silence by saying:

"Mrs. Ranney will you please excuse me while I take Mrs. Darwin into the reception-room for a private interview?"

And we passed on. As we seated ourselves upon the lounge, Mrs. Darwin remarked, "I told the Doctor I should have a great many questions asked me."

"But the Doctor is a very bland and courteous gentleman, isn't he?" said I.

"Yes, he is -- I never saw him treat any one ungentlemanly and uncourteously until I saw him treat you so."

"In what condition did you find the patients? "

"All very nice and comfortable!"

"Did you go alone?"

"No, Doctor Ranney insisted upon accompanying me!"

"Don"t you know, Mrs. Darwin, that this is no way to find out how the patients are treated?"

"Yes, I know it is not, for one of the ladies said to me as Doctor Ranney stood by her, I can't tell you what I would like to, for the Doctor would have me punished when you leave, if I did!"

Finding no way suggested, but for me to walk back in the burning noon-day sun of one of the hottest days of summer, I left her at the Asylum, promising to meet her at the depot in the evening, and started on my pedestrian tour. Following the winding road through the spacious Asylum grounds, with nothing to shade it from the scorching sun, before nearly reaching the gate I felt myself in danger of being sunstruck, and therefore sought the grateful shade of a large tree, under which reclined a number of male patients with their attendant, temporarily resting from their farm work. Accepting a chair offered me, and some of their cold water to drink from their tin pail, I commenced talking with them upon the mode the new law was enforced in their wards.

Their answers and remarks were evidently modified by the presence of their attendant, and as I arose to leave one of the intelligent ones, a sane man, started, in the same direction, saying: