They were females, one about five-and-twenty, very comely, and habited in smart holiday attire, put on with considerable rustic coquetry, so as to display a very neat foot and ankle, and with plenty of ribands in her fine chestnut hair.

The other was a very different person, far advanced in years, bent almost double, palsy-stricken, her arms and limbs shaking, her head nodding, her chin wagging, her snowy locks hanging about her wrinkled visage, her brows and upper lip frore, and her eyes almost sightless, the pupils being cased with a thin white film.

Her dress, of antiquated make and faded stuff, had been once deep red in colour, and her old black hat was high-crowned and broad-brimmed.
She partly aided herself in walking with a crutch-handled stick, and partly leaned upon her younger companion for support.
"Why, there is one of the old women we have just been speaking of--Mother Chattox," said Richard, pointing them out, "and with her, her grand-daughter, pretty Nan Redferne." "So it is," cried Nicholas, "what makes the old hag here, I marvel! I will go question her." So saying, he strode quickly towards her.
"How now, Mother Chattox!" he cried.

"What mischief is afoot?
What makes the darkness-loving owl abroad in the glare of day?
What brings the grisly she-wolf from her forest lair?
Back to thy den, old witch! Ar't crazed, as well as blind and palsied, that thou knowest not that this is a merry-making, and not a devil's sabbath?
Back to thy hut, I say! These sacred precincts are no place for thee." "Who is it speaks to me ?" demanded the old hag, halting, and fixing her glazed eyes upon him.
"One thou hast much injured," replied Nicholas.

"One into whose house thou hast brought quick-wasting sickness and death by thy infernal arts.
One thou hast good reason to fear; for learn, to thy confusion, thou damned and murtherous witch, it is Nicholas, brother to thy victim, Richard Assheton of Downham, who speaks to thee." "I know none I have reason to fear," replied Mother Chattox; "especially thee, Nicholas Assheton.