Opening the door with a key she took out of her bonnet, she pushed the child before her into a back room, where there was a great heap of rags of different colours lying on the floor; a heap of bones, and a heap of sifted dust or cinders; but there was no furniture at all, and the walls and ceiling were quite black.
The child became so terrified the she was stricken speechless, and looked as though about to swoon.
'Now don't be a young mule,' said Good Mrs Brown, reviving her with a shake.

'I'm not a going to hurt you.

Sit upon the rags.' Florence obeyed her, holding out her folded hands, in mute supplication.
'I'm not a going to keep you, even, above an hour,' said Mrs Brown.
'D'ye understand what I say ?' The child answered with great difficulty, 'Yes.' 'Then,' said Good Mrs Brown, taking her own seat on the bones, 'don't vex me.

If you don't, I tell you I won't hurt you.

But if you do, I'll kill you.