One thing is plain,--that Mistress _Nell_ keeps a conscience. I scarce think I do. There is a cushion full of pins somewhere down near my stomach, and now and then I get a prick: but I do but cry pish and turn the pin end into the cushion. _Nell_, on the contrary, pulleth forth the pin and looketh on it, holding it in all lights. But there was one time, I mind, that I did not cry pish, and methinks every pin in the cushion had set a-work to prick me hard. 'Twas ever so long gone, when _Wat_ and I dressed up the mop in a white sheet, and set it on the stairs for to make _Anstace_ and _Nell_ scream forth, a-taking it for a ghost: but as ill luck would have it, the first came by was _Mother_, with _Edith_ in her arms, that was then but a babe, and it so frighted her she went white as the very sheet, and dropped down of a dead faint, and what should have come of _Edith_ I wis not, had not _Anstace_, that came after, been quick to catch at her. Eh, but in all my life never saw I _Father_ as he then were! It was long time ere _Mother_ come to, and until after said he never a word, for he was all busied with her: but when she was come to herself and well at ease,--my word! but he did serve out _Wat_ and me! _Wat_ gat the worst, by reason he was the elder, and had (said _Father_) played the serpent to mine _Eva_: but I warrant you I forgat not that birch rod for a week or twain. Good lack! we never frighted nobody again. And after all, I do think _Father's_ talk was worser than the fustigation [whipping]. How he did insense it into us, that we might have been the death of our mother and sister both, and how it was rare wicked and cruel to seek to fright any, and had been known to turn folks' heads ere this! You see, _Father_, I have not forgot it, and I reckon I never shall.