CHAPTER VII.
"That she is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true, 'tis pity; And pity 'tis, 'tis true: a foolish figure; But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant her then; and now remains That we find out the cause of this effect, Or rather say, the cause of this defect." SHAKESPEARE.
Mr Dragwell has already made honourable mention of his wife; it will therefore only be necessary to add that he had one daughter, a handsome lively girl, engaged to a Mr Ramsden, the new surgeon of the place, who had stepped into the shoes and the _good-will_ of one who had retired from forty years' practice upon the good people of Overton.

Fanny Dragwell had many good qualities, and many others which were rather doubtful.

One of the latter had procured her more enemies than at her age she had any right to expect.

It was what the French term "malice," which bears a very different signification from the same word in our own language.

She delighted in all practical jokes, and would carry them to an excess, at the very idea of which others would be startled; but it must be acknowledged that she generally selected as her victims those who from their conduct towards others richly deserved retaliation.