'I'll never lie down again alive!' said the woman, struggling. 'IWILL tell her!  Come here!  Nearer!  Let me whisper in your ear.'

　　She clutched the matron by the arm, and forcing her into a chairby the bedside, was about to speak, when looking round, shecaught sight of the two old women bending forward in the attitudeof eager listeners.

　　'Turn them away,' said the woman, drowsily; 'make haste! makehaste!'

　　The two old crones, chiming in together, began pouring out manypiteous lamentations that the poor dear was too far gone to knowher best friends; and were uttering sundry protestations thatthey would never leave her, when the superior pushed them fromthe room, closed the door, and returned to the bedside.  On beingexcluded, the old ladies changed their tone, and cried throughthe keyhole that old Sally was drunk; which, indeed, was notunlikely; since, in addition to a moderate dose of opiumprescribed by the apothecary, she was labouring under the effectsof a final taste of gin-and-water which had been privilyadministered, in the openness of their hearts, by the worthy oldladies themselves.

　　'Now listen to me,' said the dying woman aloud, as if making agreat effort to revive one latent spark of energy.  'In this veryroom--in this very bed--I once nursed a pretty young creetur',that was brought into the house with her feet cut and bruisedwith walking, and all soiled with dust and blood.  She gave birthto a boy, and died.  Let me think--what was the year again!'

　　'Never mind the year,' said the impatient auditor; 'what abouther?'

　　'Ay,' murmured the sick woman, relapsing into her former drowsystate, 'what about her?--what about--I know!' she cried, jumpingfiercely up: her face flushed, and her eyes starting from herhead--'I robbed her, so I did!  She wasn't cold--I tell you shewasn't cold, when I stole it!'

　　'Stole what, for God's sake?' cried the matron, with a gesture asif she would call for help.

　　'IT!' replied the woman, laying her hand over the other's mouth.'The only thing she had.  She wanted clothes to keep her warm,and food to eat; but she had kept it safe, and had it in herbosom.  It was gold, I tell you!  Rich gold, that might havesaved her life!'