'I
don't know what it is, ma'am.'

"Pale as she was, the red came up in her cheeks, and her eyes flashed
wi' anger, and I think only she had half a dozen steps to take,
between her and me, she'd a gev me a sizzup. But she did gie me a
shake by the shouther, and she plucked the thing out o' my hand, and
says she, 'While ever you stay here, don't ye meddle wi' nout that
don't belong to ye', and she hung it up on the pin that was there, and
shut the door wi' a bang and locked it fast.

"Mrs. Wyvern was liftin' up her hands and laughin' all this time,
quietly, in her chair, rolling herself a bit in it, as she used when
she was kinkin'.

"The tears was in my eyes, and she winked at my aunt, and says she,
dryin' her own eyes that was wet wi' the laughin', 'Tut, the child
meant no harm--come here to me, child. It's only a pair o' crutches
for lame ducks, and ask us no questions mind, and we'll tell ye no
lies; and come here and sit down, and drink a mug o' beer before ye go
to your bed.'

"My room, mind ye, was upstairs, next to the old lady's, and Mrs.
Wyvern's bed was near hers in her room, and I was to be ready at call,
if need should be.

"The old lady was in one of her tantrums that night and part of the
day before. She used to take fits o' the sulks. Sometimes she would
not let them dress her, and at other times she would not let them take
her clothes off. She was a great beauty, they said, in her day. But
there was no one about Applewale that remembered her in her prime. And
she was dreadful fond o' dress, and had thick silks, and stiff satins,
and velvets, and laces, and all sorts, enough to set up seven shops at
the least. All her dresses was old-fashioned and queer, but worth a
fortune.

"Well, I went to my bed. I lay for a while awake; for a' things was
new to me; and I think the tea was in my nerves, too, for I wasn't
used to it, except now and then on a holiday, or the like. And I heard
Mrs. Wyvern talkin', and I listened with my hand to my ear; but I
could not hear Mrs. Crowl, and I don't think she said a word.

"There was great care took of her. The people at Applewale knew that
when she died they would every one get the sack; and their situations
was well paid and easy.

"The doctor came twice a week to see the old lady, and you may be sure
they all did as he bid them. One thing was the same every time; they
were never to cross or frump her, any way, but to humour and please
her in everything.

"