"But I do care, mother;--I won't have it--I can't bear it. She does all this to spite me, and it drives me nearly mad. You must give me something that shall bring him back. Oh, pray, pray, help me." "Nay, nay, child, you threatened me just now, and talked of your father, and punishing me as a witch. Ah, ah! I didn't deserve it." "That was only because I was peevish and fretful, Mother Goodhugh," cried the girl appealingly; "for it is so hard to find both the men of your heart go to her straight, and leave you behind as a thing of naught." "Both the men--both?" cried Mother Goodhugh, with a hoarse chuckle, "Go to, go to, wicked girl; will not one suffice?" "Oh, yes, yes, I'd give up Captain Gil, mother, but I cannot bear to see this new one go over to her too. You must help me--you shall." "Heyday, my dearie, what can I do? And besides, you laugh at my potions. I am not a witch, child, only a wise woman, who works hard to find out what herbs gathered at vital times can do. But I know nothing at all--nothing at all. Try something mixed by good Dame Beckley, thy mother; she can distil you something, I'll warrant ye." "No, no, Mother Goodhugh; how can I tell her of my fainting heart, and my sighs for a loving man. Fie! Who tells her mother of such things? Come, help me." "Nay, child, it is of no use. Go to some one else." "But you must help me, mother," cried the girl, appealingly. "Nay, child, I cannot; and besides, to do what you will is costly. Many's the long and weary time Master Abel Churr has spent in watching to get for me the toadweed when it blossomed at midnight, just at the moment when its flowers opened, and before the dew had time to wet it once. And heavily have I paid him for the earliest shoots of dog's mercury, and the roots of the peavetch grown in a dripping rill. Nay, child, I lose by thy coming here. Go ask some one else to help thee. I can do no more." "Yes, yes, you will help me, Mother Goodhugh," cried the girl, thrusting a small gold piece into her hand. "Come, haste and prepare me something." "Nay, child, I'm weary of it all," said Mother Goodhugh, making an offer to return the piece. "The toil to my brain is terrifying, and I lay awake o' nights after thinking of it all, and wondering whether it be wicked, and what's to become afterward of my sinful soul, for doing such things. Suppose through helping you to your lovers I am kept from joining my poor dear husband who's now in Heaven. Ah, no, I'll have no more to do with thee." For answer Anne Beckley gave her foot an impatient stamp, and sought for and found a couple of silver crowns, which she added to the gold piece, and pressed into the old woman's hand, which closed upon them like a hawk's claw upon some tiny partridge chick; and a grim smile of satisfaction came upon her face.