"Ay, but I don't know as she'll get it, doctor. Hussy! Yes, that's it. That's what she is, and if I see her talking to young Squire Luke Candlish's brother, Tom Candlish, again, she shan't have the chest." "Then I'll set Tom Candlish to talk to her again, and then you'll leave it to me." "Nay, you won't, doctor. I know you better than that. But he's a bad 'un. So's the squire. They're both bad 'uns. I know more about 'em than they think, and if Squire Luke warn't churchwarden, I could say a deal." "And you will not?" said the doctor. "Well, I must be going. I say, though, did you get me that skull?" "Nay, nay, nay," said the old man, shaking his head, as he lit his pipe, and began smoking very contentedly, with his eyes half closed. "I couldn't get no skulls, doctor. It would be sackerlidge and dessercation, and as long; as I'm saxton there shall be nothing of that kind at Duke's Hampton. Bowdles doos it at King's Hampton: but no such doings here." "But I want it for anatomical purposes, my good man." "Can't help it, sir. I couldn't do it." "Now what nonsense; it's only lending me a bone." "You said sell it to you," said the old man sharply. "Well, sell it. I'll buy it of you." "Nay, nay, nay. What would Parson Salis say if I did such a thing? He'd turn me out of being saxton, neck and crop." "Ah, well, I won't worry you, old fellow; and I must go now." "Nay, don't go yet, doctor," cried the old man querulously. "You haven't sounded me, nor feeled me, nor nothing." "Haven't I given you some comforting medicine?" "Yes, doctor; bit o' 'bacco does me good; but do feel my pulse and look at my tongue." "Ah, well, let's look," said the doctor, and he patiently examined according to rote. "It's Anno Domini, Moredock--Anno Domini." "Is it, now, doctor? Ah, you always did understand my complaint. If it hadn't been for you, doctor--" "We should have had a new sexton at Duke's Hampton before now, eh?" "Yes, doctor," said the old man, with a shudder. "Well, without boasting, old chap, I think I did pull you through that last illness." "Yes, doctor, you did, you did; and don't go away again. You were away seven days--seven mortal days of misery to me." "Oh, but you're all right," said the doctor, looking curiously at the old man. "Nay, nay, nay. I thought I should have died before you come back, doctor; that I did." "But you're better now." "Yes, I'm better now, doctor. I feel safer-like, and I've got so much to do that I can't afford to be ill." "And die?" "Nay, nay, nay; not yet, not yet, not yet, doctor!" "Ah, well, I'm glad I do you good, Moredock; but I think you might have lent me that skull." "You said sell, doctor," cried the old man. "Of course I should have paid you. But I suppose I must respect your scruples." "Ay, do, doctor, and come oftener. Anno Domini, is it?" "Yes." "'Tain't a killing disease, is it, doctor?"