One day the old woman obtained her customary leave of absence, and wandered beyond the usual track of her accustomed visitations when so liberated. She called first upon the doctor, and obtained from him a small sum of money--a few shillings--and afterwards among the places she visited was the miserable home of an old acquaintance. Here she took dinner and tea, and after tea drew out the money, which she said had been given her by her dear kind friend the parish doctor, and insisted upon standing treat for her companion. About nine in the evening a conversation took place between the two women. "Goody," said her friend, "you know I don't want to hurry you. You know I am very glad to have you here. I am very fond of you; but it is getting late; and if you don't make haste, you will get shut out," The speaker was what is called a little the worse for liquor, and Goody was more than a little intoxicated. She spluttered out in reply something about not caring for the porter, or the relieving-officer, or the board of guardians, or the overseers, or the church-wardens, or any body. That if she was late, it did not matter, and that she would not stand any of their nonsense. That if she was late, why--she was late. If she could not get in the house, she must stay out; and if they did not care to keep her, why, she could keep herself. "What nonsense you talk! What would you do, at your time of life, to keep yourself? Why, if they were to turn you out, you must starve. You could not work, and you have not got any thing to live upon." "Oh, haven't I, though!" the old woman incoherently exclaimed. "That is all you know about it. I don't care for them all. Dr. Jalaype has got my money. He takes care of it for me. Why, I tell you, I have got a fortune; that is, I mean he has got it keeping for me. I have got more than a thousand pounds. Is not that a fortune? Would not you like to have it, old girl? I dare say the chairman of the board would like to have it, but he won't. No, that he sha'n't. I won't go back to the house. I will stop here. There, go and get a quartern more gin." With the shilling now produced another quartern of gin was fetched, and the old lady imbibed a further quantity, and got considerably worse, and was soon reduced to a state of beastly, hopeless, and helpless intoxication.