ter had long been her abhorrence; and an insult to Mr Ramsden,
who had latterly been designated by Mrs Forster as a "Pill-gilding
Puppy," was not to be forgotten. Her active and inventive mind
immediately conceived a plan which would enable her to carry the joke
much farther than the original projectors had intended. Ramsden, who
had been summoned to attend poor Mr Spinney, was her sole confidant,
and readily entered into a scheme which was pleasing to his mistress,
and promised revenge for the treatment he had received; and which, as
Miss Dragwell declared, would be nothing but retributive justice upon
Mrs Forster.

Late in the evening, a message was received from Newton Forster,
requesting that Mr Ramsden would attend his mother. He had just
visited the old clerk, who was now sensible, and had nothing to complain
of except a deep cut on his temple from the rim of the pewter-pot.
After receiving a few parting injunctions from Miss Dragwell, Mr
Ramsden quitted the parsonage.

"I am afraid it's a very bad business, Mr Forster," replied the surgeon
to Newton, who had been interrogating him relative to the injury
received by Mr Spinney. "Evident concussion of the brain: he may
live--or he may not; a few days will decide the point: he is a poor
feeble old man."

Newton sighed as he reflected upon the disaster and disgrace which might
ensue from his mother's violence of temper.

"Eh! what, Mr Ramsden?" said Nicholas, who had been for some time
contemplating the battered visage of his spouse. "Did you say, she'll
die?"

"No, no, Mr Forster, there's no fear of Mrs Forster, she'll do well
enough. She'll be up and about again in a day or two, as lively as
ever."

"God forbid!" muttered the absent Nicholas.

"Mr Forster, see if I don't pay you off for that, as soon as I'm up
again," muttered the recumbent lady, as well as the bandages passed
under her chin would permit her.

"Pray call early to-morrow, Mr Ramsden, and let us know how Mr Spinney
is going on," said Newton, extending his hand as the surgeon rose to
depart. Mr Ramsden shook it warmly, and quitted the house: he had left
them about half an hour when Betsy made her appearance with some
fomentations, which had been prepared in the kitchen. Out of revenge
for sundry blows daily received, and sundry epithets hourly bestowed
upon her by her mistress, the moment she entered she exclaimed, in a
half-crying tone, "O dear, Mr Newton! there's such shocking new