After a lapse of five minutes, consumed in incessant knocking andshouting, an old man in his shirt and trousers emerged from theturnpike-house, and opened the gate.
It was impossibleto make any great way against such obstacles united; it was hard uponone o'clock already; and nearly two hours were consumed in getting tothe end of the stage.
Hurrah for themadhouse! Oh, it's a rare place!'I remember days when I was afraid of being mad; when I used to startfrom my sleep, and fall upon my knees, and pray to be spared fromthe curse of my race; when I rushed from the sight of merriment orhappiness, to hide myself in some lonely place, and spend the wearyhours in watching the progress of the fever that was to consume mybrain.
First of all,it was necessary to awaken the girl, who had fallen asleep with her faceon the kitchen table; this took a little time, and, even when she didanswer the bell, another quarter of an hour was consumed in fruitlessendeavours to impart to her a faint and distant glimmering of reason.
"She smiled at this, Samivel,' said the old gentleman, stifling a sighwith his pipe, 'but she died arter all!Vell,' said Sam, venturing to offer a little homely consolation, afterthe lapse of three or four minutes, consumed by the old gentleman inslowly shaking his head from side to side, and solemnly smoking, 'vell,gov'nor, ve must all come to it, one day or another.
The ride was consumed in continuous praises of the car, nowmostly in the matter of its adaptability to weather.