The Freemason's Daughter: A Novel — page 241: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

234 THE FREEMASONS DAUGHTER. with the Pawnee Indian Missionary Society. A wretched people, doctor! neither schools nor priests! Religion and science equally unknown amongst them.”’ “Is madness known amongst them ?” demanded the little Frenchman. “‘ Madness?” repeated Mr. Crab, who perfectly under- stood the character of the man who put the question: “IT should say not. The benighted wretches are not sufficiently civilised ever to go mad. Animals, sir— mere animals! ”’ “ And where do these animals reside?” ‘‘Oh, in America. Some degree—two hundred and Sifty-siz, I televe—but you know I never remember figures—south of the equator. You understand—most praiseworthy object—interesting case. All the respect- able persons in Manchester are members of the society — the funds flow in—they talk of making me treasurer.” ‘But why don’t you interest yourselves for the Pawnee Indians at home?” “At home?” repeated Mr. Crab, beginning to be somewhat mystified. « Ay,” continued the doctor, “the little ragged, shoeless wretches that run the streets of Manchester ? Religion and science are equally unknown to them, and they are not quite so far off,” he added, with a satirical smile, “‘ as two hundred and fifty-six degrees south of the equator! ”’ Mr. Crab, as you see, was not without tact; like a prudent swimmer, he no sooner felt that he had ven- ecomnuicloooks (SO