Self-Raised; Or, From the DepthsSouthworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
General
Self-Raised; Or, From the Depths
Southworth, Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte
Fiction
She put off her bonnet and her sables--the first time since the
night before, and she threw herself upon the bed, and lay there in a
torment until six o'clock in the evening, when the door was once
more unlocked by the dame, who brought her the prison supper--a tin
can of oatmeal porridge.
"Here's your parritch; ye may eat it or leave it, just as ye
please," said the woman, setting the can on the floor.
"I want some tea! I will have none of your filthy messes! Bring me
some tea!" cried Faustina.
"I wish ye may get it, lassie, that's a'," answered the dame, as she
went out and locked the door behind her.
That was the last visit Faustina had that night. She lay on her hard
bed, weeping, moaning, and lamenting her fate, until the last light
of day died out of the narrow window, and left the cell in darkness,
but for the dim red ray in the corner, that showed where the fire in
the rusty stove burned. And still she lay there, until the pangs of
hunger began to assail her. These she bore some time before she
could overcome her repugnance to the prison fare. At length,
however, she arose and groped her way about the stone floor until
she found the can of beef broth, which, upon trying, she discovered
to taste better than it looked. She ate it all; then she ate the
hunk of bread; and finally she finished with the oatmeal porridge.
And, then, without undressing, she threw herself on the outside of
her bed; and, overcome with fatigue, distress, and vigilance, she
fell into a deep sleep that lasted until the morning.
It might have lasted much longer, but she was aroused about seven
o'clock, by the entrance of her keeper, bringing her breakfast.
"Eh!" said the dame, glancing at the empty cans, "but I thocht ye
would come to your stomach. Here's your breakfast."
Faustina raised herself up and gazed around in a bewildered way, but
she soon recollected herself, and looked inquiringly at her keeper.
"It's your breakfast," said the latter; "it's guid rye coffee,
sweeted wi' treacle, and a braw bit o' bannock."
"I want water and soap and towels," said Faustina, in an angry,
peremptory manner.
"Ou, aye, nae doobt; and ye would like a lady's maid, and perfumery
'till your toilet. Aweel, there is a stone jug and bowl of water,
and a hempen clout ahint the stove, gin that will serve your
purpose," said the dame, setting down the breakfast, and gathering
the empty cans from the floor as she left the cell.
Faustina, poor wretch, made such a toilet as her rude providings
enabled her to do, and then, with what appetite she might, made her
morning meal. And then she sat on the edge of her bed and cried and
wished herself dead.
At about eleven o'clock she heard footsteps and voices approaching
the cell. And the door was opened by the turnkey, who ushered in
Mrs. MacDonald, followed by a servant from the castle, bringing a
large box and a basket.
The servant set down his burdens and retired with the turnkey, who
immediately locked the door.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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