"Will none deliver an unhappy soul in Purgatory?" demanded a hollow moaning voice, followed by awful groans, such as Amphillis had not supposed it possible for Agatha to produce. "I rather reckon, my Saracen, thou'rt a soul out o' Purgatory with a body tacked to thee," said Meg, in the coolest manner. "Help thee? Oh ay, that I will, and bring thee back to middle earth out o' thy pains. Come then!" And Meg laid hands on the white sheet, and calmly began to pull it down. "Oh, stay, Meg! Thou shalt stifle me," said the Turk, in Agatha's voice. "Ay, I thought you'd somewhat to do wi' 't, my damsel; it were like you. Have you driven anybody else out o' her seven senses beside me wi' yon foolery?" "You've kept in seventy senses," pouted Agatha, releasing herself from the last corner of her ghostly drapery. "Meg, you're a spoil-sport." "My dame shall con you but poor thanks, Mistress Agatha, if you travail folks o' this fashion while she tarrieth hence. Mistress Amphillis, too! Marry, I thought--" "I tarried here to lessen the mischief," said Amphillis. "It wasn't thee I meant to fright," said Agatha, with a pout. "I thought Father Jordan was a-coming; it was he I wanted. Never blame Amphillis; she's nigh as bad as thou." "Mistress Amphillis, I ask your pardon. Mistress Agatha, you're a bad un. 'Tis a burning shame to harry a good old man like Father Jordan. Thee hie to thy bed, and do no more mischief, thou false hussy! I'll tell my dame of thy fine doings when she cometh home; I will, so!" "Now, Meg, dear, sweet Meg, don't, and I'll--" "You'll get you abed and 'bide quiet. I'm neither dear nor sweet; I'm a cook-maid, and you're a young damsel with a fortin, and you'd neither `sweet' nor `dear' me without you were wanting somewhat of me. Forsooth, they'll win a fortin that weds wi' the like of you! Get abed, thou magpie!" And Meg was heard muttering to herself as she mounted the upper stairs to the attic chamber, which she shared with Joan and Kate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. Understood. The word _understand_ was then restricted to an original idea; _conceive_ was used in the sense of understanding another person. Note 2. The term "middle earth" arose from the belief then held, that the earth was in the midst of the universe, equidistant from Heaven above it and from Hell beneath. CHAPTER TEN. NIGHT ALARMS. "Oh let me feel Thee near me,-- The world is very near: I see the sights that dazzle, The tempting sounds I hear; My foes are ever near me, Around me and within; But, Jesus, draw Thou nearer, And save my soul from sin." John E. Bode.