isper,' and all the rest of her little budget of idiomatic
expletives, made the people somehow, along with her sterling qualities,
fonder of her than perhaps, having her always at hand, they were quite
aware.

So they both entered the vehicle, which jingled and rattled so
incessantly and so loud that connected talk was quite out of the
question, and Mrs. Macnamara was glad 'twas so; and she could not help
observing there was something more than the ordinary pale cast of
devilment in Mary Matchwell's face--something, she thought, almost
frightful, and which tempted her to believe in her necromantic faculty.

So they reached Nutter's house, at the mills, a sober, gray-fronted
mansion, darkened with tall trees, and in went Mrs. Mack. Little Mrs.
Nutter received her in a sort of transport of eagerness, giggle, and
curiosity.

'And is she really in the coach now? and, my dear, does she really tell
the wonders they say? Mrs. Molly told me--well, now, the most surprising
things; and do you actually believe she's a conjuror? But mind you,
Nutter must not know I had her here. He can't abide a fortune-teller.
And what shall I ask her? I think about the pearl cross--don't you? For
I _would_ like to know, and then whether Nutter or his enemies--you know
who I mean--will carry the day--don't you know? Doctor Sturk, my dear,
and--and--but that's the chief question.'

Poor Mrs. Mack glanced over her shoulder to see she wasn't watched, and
whispered her in haste--

'For mercy's sake, my dear, take my advice, and that is, listen to all
she tells you, but tell her nothing.'

'To be sure, my dear, that's only common sense,' said Mrs. Nutter.

And Mary Matchwell, who thought they had been quite long enough
together, descended from the carriage, and was in the hall before Mrs.
Nutter was aware; and the silent apparition overawed the poor little
lady, who faltered a 'Good-evening, Madam--you're very welcome--pray
step in.' So in they all trooped to Nutter's parlour.

So soon as little Mrs. Nutter got fairly under the chill and shadow of
this inauspicious presence, her giggle subsided, and she began to think
of the dreadful story she had heard of her having showed Mrs. Flemming
through a glass of fair water, the apparition of her husband with his
face half masked with blood, the day before his murder by the watchmen
in John's-lane. When, therefore, this woman of Endor called for water
and glasses, and told Mrs. Mack that she must lea