Why, you 'aven't got
mad, like some of the chicken-hearted birds in our cage?"
"Yes," cried the youth, "I'm frantic-mad; but stay, have patience. Did
she want to see me?"
"Yes, she asked if she could; but when I told her she might, she seemed
to get afeared to come into a jail, and said she would call again
to-morrow night at the same hour."
"Can you tell me nothing more of what she was like?--not she who was
here this evening?"
"Why, no; don't you think I know her kind? Oh, we see many o' them. They
stick closest to the unfortunate, but 'tis because they are unfortunate
themselves. Common thing, sir. Never feel for others till we have
something to feel for ourselves. The visitor is a lady, sir."
"Can you tell me nothing more?" said the student eagerly. "How was she
dressed?"
"A large, elegant cloak, sir; can scarcely say more."
"Was it trimmed with fur?"
"Not sure; but now, when I think, there was some lightish trimming--I
mean lighter than the cloak."
"And the bonnet?"
"Why, I think velvet; but you'll maybe see her yourself to-morrow. The
like o' her may do you good. The unfortunates who stick so close to the
unfortunate do no good--they're a plaster that don't cure."
"It is Maria!" ejaculated Dewhurst, as the jailer shut the door. "She
feels for me, and has come in spite of her hard-hearted brother.
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