"Oh, that's what you're clucking about, is it? Processions, indeed!" "Aunt Isel, are you very cross, or what's the matter with you?" "She's in pain, I fear," said Flemild quickly. "Where's the pain? I've gathered some splendid fresh betony and holy-thistle." "Here!" said Isel, laying her hand on her heart. "Why, then, holy-thistle's just what you want. I'll send you some down by Stephen." "Thank you. But it'll do me no good." "Oh, don't you say that, now.--Flemild, I wonder you did not come to see all the sights. You'll find you've not nearly so much time for pleasure after you're married; don't look for it. Have you settled when it's to be?" "It was to have been last month, you know, but Father wanted it put off." "Ay, so as he could know Raven a bit better. Well, when is it to be now?" "March, they say." "You don't say it as if you enjoyed it much." "Maybe she takes her pleasure in different ways from you," said Isel. "Can't see any, for my part, in going to see a lot of poor wretches flogged and driven out into the snow. Suppose you could." "O Aunt!--when they were heretics?" "No, _nor murderers neither_--without they'd murdered me, and then I reckon I shouldn't have been there to look at 'em." "But the priests say they are worse than murderers--they murder men's souls." "I'm alive, for aught I know. And I don't expect to say my Paternoster any worse than I did seven years gone." "How do you know they haven't bewitched you?" asked Anania in a solemn tone. "For the best of all reasons--that I'm not bewitched." "Aunt Isel, I'm not so sure of that. If those wretches--" "O Anania, do let Mother be!" pleaded Flemild. "It is her pain that speaks, not herself. I told you she was suffering." "You did; but I wonder if her soul isn't worse than her body. I'll just give Father Dolfin a hint to look to her soul and body both. They say those creatures only bewitched one maid, and she was but a poor villein belonging to some doctor of the schools: and so frightened was she to see their punishment that she was in a hurry to recant every thing they had taught her. Well! we shall see no more of them, that's one good thing. I shouldn't think any of them would be alive by the end of the week. The proclamation was strict--neither food nor shelter to be given, nor any compassion shown. And branded as they are, every body will know them, you see." Stephen came in while his sister-in-law was speaking. "Come, now, haven't you had talk enough?" said he. "You've a tongue as long as from here to Banbury Cross. You'd best be going home, Anania, for Osbert's as cross as two sticks, and he'll be there in a few minutes." "Oh dear, one never has a bit of peace! I did think I could have sat a while, and had a nice chat." "It won't be so nice if you keep Osbert waiting, I can tell you." Anania rose with evident reluctance, and gathered her mantle round her.