"N-no," faltered Janet, who began to be horribly frightened of the penetrating eyes that seemed to read her inmost thoughts. "No, of course you would not. How often dids't say Mas' Cobbe went down into the powder-cellar?" "Only once a month," said the girl, "when they've finished working." "Then he'll be going down directly?" "Oh, no; they finished there last week, and it will be three weeks, just," faltered Janet. "Dear me, will it?" said the old woman. "But, as I was saying, it would be so horrible if I cursed you, though it is not me, my dear, but something in me that does it. It be an evil spirit," she whispered, "and I've known girls as handsome as you lose their round, red cheeks, and soft, smooth skin, and their eyes have grown sunken, and their foreheads wrinkled. It be very horrible, my dear, but I couldn't help it." Janet tried to get up and go away, but her visitor's fierce, sharp eyes seemed to hold her back in her seat, a fact which Mother Goodhugh well knew and rejoiced in. It was the only pleasure the old woman had, and she felt at times like this how it recompensed her for the dread she felt of the stringent laws. A curious smile played round her thin lips, and Janet shuddered as the old woman leaned forward till her face was close to that of her victim. "How is the love going on, dearie?" she whispered. "Don't--ask--me," faltered the girl. "You didn't take the stuff, dearie, to give yourself ease?" "How--how did you know?" "How did I know? He-he-he!" laughed the old woman, with a cacchination that was enough to freeze the girl's blood. "I know, child, and you can't deceive me. Why didn't you take it?" "I--I was afraid," stammered Janet. "Mary Goodsell took some once, but it killed her and her baby too." "Afraid? Stuff! Afraid to give yourself ease when Mistress Mace was torturing you by her love-makings with the fine spark who played with you, and pretended to love you." "He didn't pretend," said the girl, indignantly. "He did love me till she came between." "Ah, yes, child, I suppose so; but she be a white witch and very strong, and she would come between and master him. She could lead him wherever she liked, and win him to love her with her spells. Don't trouble your poor, dear heart about him any more, my child, but take the drops, and be happy." "I--I don't think I dare," faltered the girl. "Dare? Pish! child, you be too brave and handsome a girl not to dare. It be a pity, too, that she should have come between," said Mother Goodhugh, musingly. "Ah! I have known cases where handsome, noble gentlemen have come down into country places and seen village girls, not so beautiful as thou, child, and married them, and taken them away; and a few years after they have come back looking fine ladies, with their diamonds, and jewels, and carriages, and servants." Janet's eyes sparkled as this indirect piece of flattery went on. "I'll take it," she said hastily; "I'll take it."