nd. And at
last what sud I do but peeps into Madam Crowl's bedchamber.

"A grand chamber it was, wi' a great four-poster, wi' flowered silk
curtains as tall as the ceilin', and foldin' down on the floor, and
drawn close all round. There was a lookin'-glass, the biggest I ever
sid before, and the room was a blaze o' light. I counted twenty-two
wax candles, all alight. Such was her fancy, and no one dared say her
nay.

"I listened at the door, and gaped and wondered all round. When I
heard there was not a breath, and did not see so much as a stir in the
curtains, I took heart, and walked into the room on tiptoe, and looked
round again. Then I takes a keek at myself in the big glass; and at
last it came in my head, 'Why couldn't I ha' a keek at the ald lady
herself in the bed?

"Ye'd think me a fule if ye knew half how I longed to see Dame Crowl,
and I thought to myself if I didn't peep now I might wait many a day
before I got so gude a chance again.

"Well, my dear, I came to the side o' the bed, the curtains bein'
close, and my heart a'most failed me. But I took courage, and I slips
my finger in between the thick curtains, and then my hand. So I waits
a bit, but all was still as death. So, softly, softly I draws the
curtain, and there, sure enough, I sid before me, stretched out like
the painted lady on the tomb-stean in Lexhoe Church, the famous Dame
Crowl, of Applewale House. There she was, dressed out. You never sid
the like in they days. Satin and silk, and scarlet and green, and gold
and pint lace; by Jen! 'twas a sight! A big powdered wig, half as high
as herself, was a-top o' her head, and, wow!--was ever such
wrinkles?--and her old baggy throat all powdered white, and her cheeks
rouged, and mouse-skin eyebrows, that Mrs. Wyvern used to stick on, and
there she lay proud and stark, wi' a pair o' clocked silk hose on, and
heels to her shoon as tall as nine-pins. Lawk! But her nose was
crooked and thin, and half the whites o' her eyes was open. She used
to stand, dressed as she was, gigglin' and dribblin' before the
lookin'-glass, wi' a fan in her hand and a big nosegay in her bodice.
Her wrinkled little hands was stretched down by her sides, and such
long nails, all cut into points, I never sid in my days. Could it even
a bin the fashion for grit fowk to wear their fingernails so?

"Well, I think ye'd a-bin frightened yourself if ye'd a sid such a
sight. I couldn't let go the curtain, nor move an inch, nor tak