, it's a good thing to
have, if the person will use this bottle," she added, producing one, "as
I will direct them."

"I wouldn't wish, for my part," replied Mrs Sullivan, "to have anything
to do wid it--neither act nor part"; and she crossed herself devoutly,
on contemplating such an unholy alliance as that at which her companion
hinted.

"Mary Sullivan," replied the other, "I can put good fortune and
happiness in the way of you and yours. It is for you the good is
intended; if _you_ don't get both, _no other_ can," and her eyes kindled
as she spoke like those of the Pyrhoness in the moment of inspiration.

Mrs Sullivan looked at her with awe, fear, and a strong mixture of
curiosity; she had often heard that the _Lianhan Shee_ had, through
means of the person to whom it was bound, conferred wealth upon several,
although it could never render this important service to those who
exercised direct authority over it. She therefore experienced something
like a conflict between her fears and a love of that wealth, the
possession of which was so plainly intimated to her.

"The money," said she, "would be one thing, but to have the _Lianhan
Shee_ planted over a body's shouldher--och! the saints preserve us!--no,
not for oceans of hard goold would I have it in my company one minnit.
But in regard to the money--hem!--why, if it could be managed without
havin' act or part wid _that thing_, people would do anything in reason
and fairity."

"You have this day been kind to me," replied the woman, "and that's what
I can't say of many--dear help me!--husht! Every door is shut in my
face! Does not every cheek get pale when I am seen? If I meet a
fellow-creature on the road, they turn into the field to avoid me; if I
ask for food, it's to a deaf ear I speak; if I am thirsty, they send me
to the river. What house would shelter me? In cold, in hunger, in
drought, in storm, and in tempest, I am alone and unfriended, hated,
feared, an' avoided; starving in the winter's cold, and burning in the
summer's heat. All this is my fate here; and--oh! oh! oh!--have mercy,
tormentor--have mercy! I will not lift my thoughts _there_--I'll keep
the paction--but spare me _now_!"

She turned round as she spoke, seeming to follow an invisible object,
or, perhaps, attempting to get a more complete view of the mysterious
being which exercised such a terrible and painful influence over her.
Mrs Sullivan, also, kept her eye fixed upon the lump, and actua