omstick.
They said that you'd make tracks for Krindlesyke:
And they'd cop you here, for certain--dig you out
Like a badger from his earth. I left them talking.

JIM:
Where, you hell-hag?

BELL:
Ah, where? You'd like to learn?
It's well to keep a civil tongue with witches,
If you've no sliver of rowan in your pocket:
Though it won't need any witch, my jackadandy,
To clap the clicking jimmies round your wrists.
To think I fashed myself to give you warning:
And this is all the thanks I get! Well, well--
They'll soon be here. As I came up Bloodysyke ...

JIM:
Up Bloodysyke: and they were following?
I'd best cut over Gallows Rigg. My God,
The hunt's afoot ... But it may be a trap--
And you ... And you ...

BELL:
Nay: but I'm no ratcatcher.
You'd best turn tail, before the terriers sight you.

(_As JIM bolts past her and through the open door_)

Rats! Rats! Good dog! ... And now we're rid of vermin.

JUDITH:
Oh, Bell, what has he done? What has he done?

BELL:
How should I ken?

JUDITH:
And yet you said ...

BELL:
I said?
You've surely not forgotten Bell Haggard's tongue,
After the taste you had of it the last time?

JUDITH:
What did you hear?

BELL:
A drunken blether-breeks
In a bar at Bellingham: and I recognized
Peter's own brother, too; and guessed 'twas Jim:
And when they gossiped of Krindlesyke ... Oh, I ken
Ladies don't listen: but not being a lady
Whiles has advantages: and when he left
His crony sprawling, splurging in the gutter,
I followed him, full-pelt, hot on his heel,
Guessing the hanniel was up to little good.
But he got here before me: so I waited
Outside, until I heard him blustering;
And judged it time to choke his cracking-croose.
I couldn't have that wastrel making mischief
In Michael's house: I didn't quit Krindlesyke
That it might be turned into a tinker's dosshouse,
Hotching with maggots like a reesty gowdy,
For any hammy, halfnabs, and hang-gallows
To stretch his lousy carcase in at ease,
After I'd slutted to keep it respectable
For fifteen-year.

JUDITH:
But what do you think he's done--
Not murder?

BELL:
Murder? Nay: it takes a man
To murder.

JUDITH:
Ay ... But when you spoke of hanging,
He turned like death: and when he threatened you,
I saw blue-murder in his eyes.

BELL: