Surely no bell beneath the sky Can send forth better sounds than I? The East Dean register contains a curious entry which is quoted in Grose's _Olio_, ed. 1796:--"Agnes Payne, the daughter of Edward Payne, was buried on the _first day of February_. Johan Payne, the daughter of Edward Payne, was buried on the _first day of February_. "In the death of these two sisters last mentioned is one thing worth recording, and diligently to be noted. 'The elder sister, called Agnes, being very sicke unto death, _speechless_, and, as was thought, past hope of speakinge; after she had lyen twenty-four hours without speach, at last upon a suddayne cryed out to her sister to make herself ready and to come with her. Her sister Johan being abroad about other business, was called for, who being come to her sicke sister, demaundinge how she did, she very lowde or earnestly bade her sister make ready--she staid for her, and could not go without her. Within half an houre after, Johan was taken very sicke, which increasinge all the night uppone her, her other sister stille callinge her to come away; in the morninge they both departed this wretched world together. O the unsearchable wisdom of God! How deepe are his judgments, and his ways past fyndinge out! "Testified by diverse oulde and honest persons yet living; which I myself have heard their father, when he was alive, report. "Arthur Polland, Vicar; Henry Homewood, John Pupp, Churchwardens." [Sidenote: THE SELWYN MONUMENT] [Sidenote: FRISTON PLACE] Friston church is interesting, for it contains one of the most beautiful monuments in Sussex, worthy to be remembered with that to the Shurleys at Isfield. The family commemorated is the Selwyns, and the monument has a very charming dado of six kneeling daughters and three babies laid neatly on a tasseled cushion, under the reading desk--a quaint conceit impossible to be carried out successfully in these days, but pretty and fitting enough then. Of the last of the Selwyns, "Ultimus Selwynorum," who died aged twenty, in 1704, it is said, with that exquisite simplicity of exaggeration of which the secret also has been lost, that for him "the very marble might weep." Friston Place, the home of the Selwyns, has some noble timbers, and a curious old donkey-well in the garden. West Dean, which is three miles to the west, by a bleak and lonely road amid hills and valleys, is just a farm yard, with remains of very ancient architecture among the barns and ricks. The village, however, is more easily reached from Alfriston than Eastbourne. CHAPTER XXXV PEVENSEY AND HURSTMONCEUX