"Well, but," quo' I, "'tis poison." "Aye, and medicine, too," returns Gammer, "I wonder what we poor souls might come to, if we tooke nowt for our ails and aches but what we could buy o' the potticary. We've got noe Dr. Clement, we poor folks, to be our leech o' the household." "But hast no feare," quo' I, "of an overdose?" "There's manie a doctor," sayth she, with an unpleasant leer, "that hath given that at first. In time he gets his hand in; and I've had a plenty o' practice--thanks to self and sister." "I knew not," quoth I, "that thou hadst a sister." "How should ye, mistress," returns she, shortlie, "when ye never comes nigh us? We've grubbed on together this many a year." "'Tis soe far," I returned, half ashamed. "Why, soe it be," answers Gammer; "far from neighbours, far from church, and far from priest; howbeit, my old legs carries me to _your_ house o' Fridays; but I know not whether I shall e'er come agayn--the rye bread was soe hard last time; it may serve for young teeth, and for them as has got none; but mine, you see, are onlie on the _goe_;" and she opened her mouth with a ghastly smile. "'Tis not," she added, "that I'm ungratefulle; but thou sees, mistress, I really _can't_ eat crusts." After a moment, I asked, "Where lies your dwelling?" "Out by yonder," quoth she, pointing to a shapeless mass like a huge bird's nest in y'e corner of the field. "There bides poor Joan and I. Wilt come and looke within, mistress, and see how a Christian can die?" I mutelie complyed, in spite of Cecy's pulling at my skirts. Arrived at y'e wretched abode, which had a hole for its chimney, and another for door at once and window, I found, sitting in a corner, propped on a heap of rushes, dried leaves, and olde rags, an aged sick woman, who seemed to have but a little while to live. A mug of water stoode within her reach; I saw none other sustenance; but, in her visage, oh, such peace!... Whispers Gammer with an awfulle look, "She sees 'em now!" "Sees who?" quoth I. "Why, angels in two long rows, afore y'e throne of God, a bending of themselves, this way, with theire faces to th' earth, and arms stretched out afore 'em." "Hath she seen a priest?" quoth I.