Something--a few pounds--in the hands of John and Jeremiah Foster, her cousins: and it was they who had suggested the duty on which she was engaged.

She had asked William Coulson to write down her wishes, and he had consented, though with some fear and trepidation; for he had an idea that he was infringing on a lawyer's prerogative, and that, for aught he knew, he might be prosecuted for making a will without a licence, just as a man might be punished for selling wine and spirits without going through the preliminary legal forms that give permission for such a sale.

But to his suggestion that Alice should employ a lawyer, she had replied-- 'That would cost me five pounds sterling; and thee canst do it as well, if thee'll but attend to my words.' So he had bought, at her desire, a black-edged sheet of fine-wove paper, and a couple of good pens, on the previous Saturday; and while waiting for her to begin her dictation, and full serious thought himself, he had almost unconsciously made the grand flourish at the top of the paper which he had learnt at school, and which was there called a spread-eagle.
'What art thee doing there ?' asked Alice, suddenly alive to his proceedings.
Without a word he showed her his handiwork.
'It's a vanity,' said she, 'and 't may make t' will not stand.

Folk may think I were na in my right mind, if they see such fly-legs and cob-webs a-top.

Write, "This is my doing, William Coulson, and none of Alice Rose's, she being in her sound mind."' 'I don't think it's needed,' said William.