But the very thought of ’im seemed to drive ’er crazy.  And then she said that about the black magic, and ’ow ’e’d never be persuaded to let ’er die easy.  And then she says to me.  ‘But you didn’t shake the bottle,’ she says.  ’I expect the stuff that kills the pain is all at the bottom.’  And I thought there might be somethin’ in it, so I fetched the bottle again and shook it up.  And I thought I’d give ’er just ’alf a dose more in case she ’adn’t ‘ad enough.  But just as I was a-goin’ to pour it out there was such a rappin’ down in the bar, that I ’ad to just give it ’er and run.  I was back in under a minute, and there was pore mother a-sittin’ up in bed and a-smilin’ at me as if all ’er troubles was past, and says she, ‘Annie,’ she says, ’I’ve ’ad enough and I don’t want no more,’ she says; ‘it’s killed the pain.’  And then she laid down in bed still smilin’, and says she, ’You tell the doctor when ’e comes as I’m sorry to ‘a’ fetched ‘im for nothin’, but I couldn’t wait—.’  And—­if you’ll believe me, Miss Olga,—­those was the last words she spoke.”  Again vigorously Mrs. Briggs dried her eyes.  “She just dropped off to sleep as easy as easy, and I left ’er and went back to the bar.  There was a stick by the bedside, and I knew I should ’ear ’er knock if she wanted me.  But she didn’t knock, and she didn’t knock, and I kept thinkin’ to myself what a nice sleep she was ‘avin’, and I wouldn’t disturb ’er till the doctor came.  And then all of a sudden, it came into my mind to wonder about that there medicine.  And I just run up to see.  And there I found ‘er a-laying’ dead, and the stuff in the bottle were ’alf-gone!”

Mrs. Briggs’s information was imparted in a whisper and punctuated by sniffs.  Her two listeners exchanged awe-stricken glances.

“How did you know she was dead?” asked Violet.  “What did she look like?”

“My dear,” said Mrs. Briggs, with solemn pride, “anyone as ’as seen death as often as I ’ave don’t need to look twice.”

Mrs. Briggs occupied the exalted position of layer-out in chief in Brethaven village, and right proud was she of her calling.  It had been handed down from mother to daughter in her family for the past four generations.  She literally swelled with importance as she resumed her narrative and her pastry-rolling at the same moment.

“Well, there she lay, pore dear, and I saw as the Lord ’ad took ’er right enough, and ’er troubles was well over.  But there was this ’ere medicine-bottle, and I ’ad to think pretty quick about that; for just as I picked it up I ’eard the doctor’s motor come round the corner.  It came to me all in a minute, it did, and I upped with the water-jug and filled it to all but a spoonful of the top.  For I knew what ’is first thought would be,” said Mrs. Briggs grimly.  “And I wasn’t minded to let myself in for any questions.  Yer see, my dear, ’e’d told me ’isself as the pore creature couldn’t last the week.  Well, I stuck the bottle on the shelf, and went to