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But my salutation was not returned, and instead of accedting -sic- my proffered hand, he sternly remarked:

"Step out of your room!"

"Step out of my room! did you say?"

"Yes."

I obeyed, when no sooner was I past the threshold, than he pulled my door together, and locked it against me. Then holding his key in his hand, as much as to say, "I hold your destiny by the power of this key, and I hold too, that precious book now in your room under the power of this key; it there-fore becomes you to be careful what you do! "and standing in front of me, he said:

"Mrs. Packard, I consider that note you sent me as unlady-like -- as containing a threat."

Pausing a moment, I replied:

"Dr. McFarland, that note contained the truth, and nothing but the truth. I promised you when I had been here only. four months, that I should expose you when I got out, unless you repented -- I don't take it back! -- I don't recant!"

Without saying another word, he took hold of my arm and led me gently into a screen-room, and locked me up!

This was the first time I had ever been locked in a screen-room, and now his own hand had turned the bolt of this maniac's cell upon me! Unlike screen-rooms generally, this room had a chair in it, which the patients said the Doctor carried in himself before he came to my door.

Having of course here nothing to do, I took the chair and placing it before the corner of the room, I seated myself and tipped it back, and resting my head against a pillow I took from the bed, tried to compose myself to sleep, knowing that good sleep is as good an antidote to trouble, as I could then command. In this position I quietly rested with closed eyes, for two hours, thinking over the probable fate of my book.

"There is one part of my book," thought I, "which will escape this destruction, for Miss Mills had yesterday taken the first volume down to Mrs. Chapman of the Seventh ward. The Doctor won't find this in my room, thank good fortune!"

But I am sorry to say this part of my soliloquy did not prove true, for the Doctor, after searching all the things in my room, even the bedding, both of the ticks, and both of the pillows, and not finding this book which, he knew was ready for the press, he finally inquired of Miss Mills if she knew where one volume of Mrs. Packard's book could be found.

My kind attendant, recollecting my instruction, "Don't tell a lie to help me," felt bound to tell the truth, which she did.

The Doctor, therefore went to Mrs. Chapman's room and demanded the book. She took the manuscript from between her ticks and handed it to him.

"Now," thought I, "this paltry thief has got every scrap of my precious book into his own hands! besides all the other manuscripts and all the stationery of every kind, which I had in my possession that he could find."

But thanks to a good Providence, my entire journal escaped this wreck. Although the greater part of it passed through his fingers, yet he knew it not!

It was all rolled up in small, separate portions, in the different articles of my wardrobe, and as the Doctor handled over each and every article of linen in my trunk, he little thought that the contents of this book then passed unobserved, through his fingers, by being wrapped up in these articles, and fastened by a pin! Had he removed one pin and thus found one roll, he would, doubtless, have removed all the pins, and thus found them all. But it seems the Doctor's curiosity was satisfied with the examination of a lady's wardrobe, without looking to see with his own eyes the style of embroidery upon her linen!

After this general overhauling of my things, it seems the Doctor was not satisfied, for he then went to every female em-ployee, and in the most excited state they had ever seen their Superintendent, asked them the question he had asked Miss Mills, viz.:

"Do you know of any place where Mrs. Packard keeps her papers?"

None, except Miss Mills, were able to inform him on this point, for my prudence did not allow me to make a confidant in these matters, of any person in the house, not even after the new dispensation had been opened upon me; for I knew that it is not all gold that glitters, and possibly this gold which I thought I had found in the Doctor, might not stand the smelting process to which I knew it must yet be subjected! I now saw the wisdom of granting to great sinners a "day of probation," before taking them into "full fellowship!"

When my "new convert," had got through his backsliding business, he came in my room, and unlocking my door found his prisoner as quietly sleeping, to all appearance, while this wrath cloud of indignation was expending itself about her, as if she had no responsibility of any other person's actions resting upon her except her own.

I opened my eyes, and said to the Doctor who stood in the open doorway looking at me:

"Can I come out now?"

"Yes."

"Can I go to my room?"

"Yes, of course."

He then followed me to the door of my room, and as he un-locked it and disclosed to my view the empty box upon the floor, which two hours before contained my precious book, and my bed and toilet articles presenting the appearance that my room had had a crazy occupant in it since I left it, I turned my eyes from that sad scene to his face, and simply said, in a quiet, soft tone, as I laid my hand gently upon his arm: