d to quit my House; Nobody will take it, when 'tis known that
She haunts it, and then I shall find myself in a fine situation!
Miserable Woman that I am! What shall I do! What will become of me!'

Here She wept bitterly, wrung her hands, and begged to know the Abbot's
opinion of her case.

'In truth, good Woman,' replied He, 'It will be difficult for me to
relieve you without knowing what is the matter with you. You have
forgotten to tell me what has happened, and what it is you want.'

'Let me die' cried Jacintha, 'but your Sanctity is in the right! This
then is the fact stated briefly. A lodger of mine is lately dead, a
very good sort of Woman that I must needs say for her as far as my
knowledge of her went, though that was not a great way:

She kept me too much at a distance; for indeed She was given to be upon
the high ropes, and whenever I ventured to speak to her, She had a look
with her which always made me feel a little queerish, God forgive me
for saying so. However, though She was more stately than needful, and
affected to look down upon me (Though if I am well informed, I come of
as good Parents as She could do for her ears, for her Father was a
Shoe-maker at Cordova, and Mine was an Hatter at Madrid, aye, and a
very creditable Hatter too, let me tell you,) Yet for all her pride,
She was a quiet well-behaved Body, and I never wish to have a better
Lodger. This makes me wonder the more at her not sleeping quietly in
her Grave: But there is no trusting to people in this world! For my
part, I never saw her do amiss, except on the Friday before her death.
To be sure, I was then much scandalized by seeing her eat the wing of a
Chicken! "How, Madona Flora!" quoth I; (Flora, may it please your
Reverence, is the name of the waiting Maid)--"How, Madona Flora!"
quoth I; "Does your Mistress eat flesh upon Fridays? Well! Well!
See the event, and then remember that Dame Jacintha warned you of it!"
These were my very words, but Alas! I might as well have held my
tongue! Nobody minded me; and Flora, who is somewhat pert and
snappish, (More is the pity, say I) told me that there was no more harm
in eating a Chicken than the egg from which it came. Nay, She even
declared that if her Lady added a slice of bacon, She would not be an
inch nearer Damnation, God protect us! A poor ignorant sinful soul! I
protest to your Holiness, I trembled to hear her utter such
blasphemies, and expected every moment to see the g