"No, Ma'am, she's out. And that's another thing bothers me, she's taken to going out all hours now, no matter what kind of weather 'tis. It's a puzzle to me where she goes to, tramping about in the mud." "Well, I cannot help you there," replied Goody Grey, "her tongue I might stop, but not her actions, you must look to those yourself." "And so I mean to, Mrs. Grey, so I _will_," said Matthew, determinately. "I only thought so this very day, as I was leaning on this very gate, just before I saw you." "It is a wise resolution, but fools see wisdom or learn it sometimes." "Don't you begin that old story agin, Ma'am, nor say one word about the trees that's going to fall; for I can't abide it, and don't want to know nothing about what's going to happen. Death's near enough for us all, but we don't want to be knowing when he's going to knock us up." "Where there's a storm there's sure to be a wreck," said she. "Stop there, Ma'am," replied Matthew, "and don't be after looking that way at the cottage. What do yer see?" "I saw the face of a woman at the window." "No, that yer couldn't," replied he, "Mrs. Marks is out!" "Are you sure she is out?" "Lord save yer, Mrs. Grey, in coorse I am. Didn't I watch her out? and wouldn't I have heard her voice calling out after me, long afore this," and Matthew grinned at the very idea. "Who was it then?" "Yer couldn't have seen no one. There's only crazed Jane in the place, and she don't never move out of the chimbly corner for no one. She's no curiosity, like Mrs. Marks says I have." "Who is crazed Jane? Where does she come from? and what does she in your cottage?" "Just nothing save to be knitting all day long, and follering me about with her big eyes. She's my wife's sister, yer see, and is living with us, she don't need no charm to keep her tongue quiet. She's just the only woman I ever met as could, saving yer presence, Ma'am; and is every bit as knowing as yerself, and could tell yer a deal if yer liked." "About what?" "About whatever yer liked to ask her. It's my belief she could tell the weather just every bit as well as yerself. If yer'd lost anything she'd know where to clap eyes on it again, just as yer did the bit of copper t'other day, and a deal of other things as don't cross my mind now." "I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" exclaimed Goody Grey fiercely. "If I did--I'd tear her very heart out, if she didn't tell me." And she passed on, leaving Matthew horrified at her words. He watched her all the way down the road, which she traversed with a quick, hasty step, striking her staff defiantly into the ground as she went, until the turn of the road took her out of his sight. "What a fearful body she is!" thought he, as he turned into the cottage. But there his horror and astonishment was still further increased at finding crazed Jane lying in a heap on the floor.