Thy brother was no victim of mine.

Thou wert the gainer by his death, not I.Why should I slay him ?" "I will tell thee why, old hag," cried Nicholas; "he was inflamed by the beauty of thy grand-daughter Nancy here, and it was to please Tom Redferne, her sweetheart then, but her spouse since, that thou bewitchedst him to death." "That reason will not avail thee, Nicholas," rejoined Mother Chattox, with a derisive laugh.

"If I had any hand in his death, it was to serve and pleasure thee, and that all men shall know, if I am questioned on the subject--ha! ha! Take me to the crosses, Nance." "Thou shalt not 'scape thus, thou murtherous hag," cried Nicholas, furiously.
"Nay, let her go her way," said Richard, who had drawn near during the colloquy.

"No good will come of meddling with her." "Who's that ?" asked Mother Chattox, quickly.
[Illustration: NAN REDFERNE AND MOTHER CHATTOX.] "Master Richard Assheton, o' Middleton," whispered Nan Redferne.
"Another of these accursed Asshetons," cried Mother Chattox.

"A plague seize them!" "Boh he's weel-favourt an kindly," remarked her grand-daughter.
"Well-favoured or not, kindly or cruel, I hate them all," cried Mother Chattox.