'Who'd ha' thought it was so near, Ma'am,' said the maid; 'the poor
little thing! Though to be sure, Ma'am, a winding sheet came three times
in the candle last night, and I turns it round and picks it off, that
way, with my nail, unknownst to Mrs. Heany, for fear she'd be frettin'
about the little boy that's lyin' at home in the small-pox; and indeed I
thought 'twas for him it was; but man proposes, and God disposes--and
death forgets none, the Lord be praised--and everyone has their hour,
old and young, Ma'am; and as I was sayin', they had no notion or
expectation up at the Elms, Ma'am, she was so bad, the heavens be her
bed this night. 'Twas all in an instant like, Miss, she made as if she'd
sit up, bein' leanin' on pillows--and so she put out them purty little
hands of hers, with a smile, and that was all--the purty
crature--everyone's sorry afther her. The man was cryin' in the hall
that brought the note.'
The poor came to the door, and made their rude and kindly
lamentations--they were all quite sincere--'His reverence was very good,
but he couldn't have the thought, you know.' It was quite
true--'everyone was sorry.
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