The Works of George W. M. Reynolds — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

CRAZY JANE 207 ‘“‘ Let us go and see her,’’ exclaimed the baronet, “‘ without delay. But no! Redcliffe, you shall go alone. I have more faith in your power to lead her into lucid conversation than inmy own. I have already so often failed. Besides, it is frequently to a stranger that these poor demented creatures will prove more rational than to those whom they have known for a long time, and who have always been accus- tomed to talk to them in a particular way.” “Yes,” said Mr. Redcliffe, “‘ I will lose no timc in seeing her. I think you stated that her hut is about four miles distant? If you indicate the particular direction, I will set out and walk thither.” “Take the carriage, or go on horseback,” exclaimed the baronet. ‘““No,” rejoined Mr. Redcliffe, ‘‘ I will walk, because in that case I may stand a better chance of falling in with her if she be rambling about. And I will go alone, too, as she may be the less embarrassed and bewildered in conversing with one than in talking in the presence of two or more.”’ Sir William Stanley gave Mr. Redcliffe sufficient explana- tions to guide him toward Crazy Jane’s hut, and that gentle- man accordingly set out. He had proceeded for a distance of about three miles across the fields, when on emerging into a lane bordered by high thick hedges he perceived Crazy Jane sitting on the green bank under one of these hedges, rocking herself to and fro and speaking aloud. An idea suddenly entered Mr. Redeliffe’s mind. He remembered that Captain Stanley had stated how Crazy Jane had spoken of having ‘said it all to herself,’”’ and how by an incautious ejaculation he had driven the poor woman’s thoughts out of her head, and it therefore occurred to Mr. Redcliffe that when she was alone she was better able to keep her ideas collected. She | had not as yet seen him-as he emerged into the lane; he got at the back of the hedge, and stealthily creeping along halted. close behind the spot where Crazy Jane was still seated. She was continuing to muse in an audible tone, but in strangely disjointed and broken sentences, the tenor of which was, however, as follows: “It must be many and many a year since then, but I cannot recollect how many. I was very different at that time — Ah, so different! People did not. call me Crazy Jane. No, it was ‘Jane my good girl, do this or do that.’ Gomiicdoo cS (C(O)