I had heard, at Paris, that the institution of Monsieur Maillard was managed upon what is vulgarly termed the “system of soothing” —­ that all punishments were avoided —­ that even confinement was seldom resorted to —­ that the patients, while secretly watched, were left much apparent liberty, and that most of them were permitted to roam about the house and grounds in the ordinary apparel of persons in right mind.

Keeping these impressions in view, I was cautious in what I said before the young lady; for I could not be sure that she was sane; and, in fact, there was a certain restless brilliancy about her eyes which half led me to imagine she was not.  I confined my remarks, therefore, to general topics, and to such as I thought would not be displeasing or exciting even to a lunatic.  She replied in a perfectly rational manner to all that I said; and even her original observations were marked with the soundest good sense, but a long acquaintance with the metaphysics of mania, had taught me to put no faith in such evidence of sanity, and I continued to practise, throughout the interview, the caution with which I commenced it.

Presently a smart footman in livery brought in a tray with fruit, wine, and other refreshments, of which I partook, the lady soon afterward leaving the room.  As she departed I turned my eyes in an inquiring manner toward my host.

“No,” he said, “oh, no —­ a member of my family —­ my niece, and a most accomplished woman.”

“I beg a thousand pardons for the suspicion,” I replied, “but of course you will know how to excuse me.  The excellent administration of your affairs here is well understood in Paris, and I thought it just possible, you know-

“Yes, yes —­ say no more —­ or rather it is myself who should thank you for the commendable prudence you have displayed.  We seldom find so much of forethought in young men; and, more than once, some unhappy contre-temps has occurred in consequence of thoughtlessness on the part of our visitors.  While my former system was in operation, and my patients were permitted the privilege of roaming to and fro at will, they were often aroused to a dangerous frenzy by injudicious persons who called to inspect the house.  Hence I was obliged to enforce a rigid system of exclusion; and none obtained access to the premises upon whose discretion I could not rely.”

“While your former system was in operation!” I said, repeating his words —­ “do I understand you, then, to say that the ’soothing system’ of which I have heard so much is no longer in force?”

“It is now,” he replied, “several weeks since we have concluded to renounce it forever.”

“Indeed! you astonish me!”

“We found it, sir,” he said, with a sigh, “absolutely necessary to return to the old usages.  The danger of the soothing system was, at all times, appalling; and its advantages have been much overrated.  I believe, sir, that in this house it has been given a fair trial, if ever in any.  We did every thing that rational humanity could suggest.  I am sorry that you could not have paid us a visit at an earlier period, that you might have judged for yourself.  But I presume you are conversant with the soothing practice —­ with its details.”