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 take my
eyes off her; my very heart stood still. And in an instant she opens
her eyes and up she sits, and spins herself round, and down wi' her,
wi' a clack on her two tall heels on the floor, facin' me, ogglin' in
my face wi' her two great glassy eyes, and a wicked simper wi' her
wrinkled lips, and lang fause teeth.

"Well, a corpse is a natural thing; but this was the dreadfullest
sight I ever sid. She had her fingers straight out pointin' at me, and
her back was crooked, round again wi' age. Says she: