Stranica 138 [138]
96
previously guite forgotten the patient,
“it’s all U. P. there, Mrs. Corney.”
cc [t is, is it, sir?’ asked the matron.
sc If she lasts a couple of hours, I shall
be surprised,” said the apothecary’s ap¬
prentice, intent upon the toothpick’s point.
“It’s a break-up of the system altogether.
Is she dozing, old lady ?”
The attendant stooped over the bed to
ascertain, and nodded in the affirmative.
«Then perhaps she’ll go off in that
way, if you don’t make a row,” said the
young man. “ Put the light on the floor,
—she won’t see it there.”
The attendant did as she was bidden,
shaking her head meanwhile to intimate
that the woman would not die so easily;
and, having done so, resumed her seat by
the side of the other nurse, who had by
this time returned. The mistress, with
an expression of impatience, wrapped
herself in her shawl, and sat at the foot
of the bed.
The apothecary’s apprentice, having
completed the manufacture of the tooth¬
pick, planted himself in front of the fire,
and made good use of it for ten minutes
or so, when, apparently growing rather
dull, he wished Mrs. Corney joy of her
job, and took himself off on tiptoe.
When they had sat in silence for some
time, the two old women rose from the
bed, and, crouching over the fire, held
out their withered hands to catch the
heat. The flame threw a ghastly light
on their shrivelled faces, and made their
ugliness appear perfectly terrible, as in
this position they began to converse in a
low voice.
“Did she say any more, Anny dear,
while I was gone?” inquired the mes¬
senger.
. Not a word,” replied the other. " She
plucked and tore at her arms for a little
time; but I held her hands, and she soon
dropped off. She hasn’t much strength
in her, so I easily kept her quiet. I ain’t
so weak for an old woman, although I am
on parish allowance ;—no, no.” .
c Did she drink the hot wine the doc¬
tor said she was to have?” demanded the
first.
. T tried to get it down,” rejoined the
other ; “ but her teeth were tight set, and
she clenched the mug so hard, that it was
So J drank it, and it did me good.”
. Looking cautiously round to ascertain
that they were not overheard, the two
hags cowered nearer to the fire, and
chuckled heartily.
*T mind the time,” said the first
speaker, “when she would have done the
same, and made rare fun of it afterwards.”
c Ay, that she would,” rejoined the
other; ‘she had a merry heart. A many,
many beautiful corpses she laid out, as
nice and neat as wax-work. Myolde
have seen them,—ay, and these old hands
touched them too; for I have helped her
scores of times.”
Stretching forth her trembling fingers
as she spoke, the old creature shook them
exultingly before her face; and then,
fumbling in her pocket, brought out an
old time-discoloured tin snuff-box, from
which she shook a few grains into the.
outstretched palm of her companion, and
a few more into her own. While they
were thus employed, the matron, who had
been impatiently watching until the dy¬
ing woman should awaken from her stu¬
por, joined them by the fire, and sharply
asked how long she was to wait.
6 Not long, mistress,” replied the se¬
cond woman, looking up into her face.
“ We have none of us long to wait for
Death. Patience, patience! he’ll be
here soon enough for us all.”
6 Hold your tongue, you doting idiot !” —
said the matron sternly. You, Martha,
tell me; has she been in this way be¬
fore!"
c Often,” answered the first woman.
“ But will never be again,” added the ©
second one; “that is, she "11 never wake
again but once,—and mind, mistress, that
won’t be for long.”
c Long or short,” said the matron snap¬
pishly, " she won’t find me here when she
does, and take care, both of you, how you
worry me again for nothing. It’s no part
of my duty to see all the old women in
the house die, and I won’t,—that’s more.
Mind that, you impudent old harridans!
If you make a fool of me again, [ll soon
cure you, Í warrant you!”
She was bouncing away, when a cry
from the two women, who had turned to¬
wards the bed, caused her to look round.
The sick woman had raised herself up¬
right, and was stretching her arms to¬
wards them.
“ Who "s that?" she cried in a hollow
voice.
‘‘ Hush, hush!” said one of the women
stooping over her,—* lie down, lie down !”
6 [711 never lie down again alive !” said
the woman struggling. “I will tell her!
Come here—nearer. Let me whisper in
your ear.”
She clutched the matron by the arm,
and forcing her into a chair by the bed¬
side was about to speak, when, looking