Altogether she had a strange old-fashioned look, and from her habitual bitterness of speech, as well as from her vindictive character, which, young as she was, had been displayed, with some effect, on more than one occasion, she was no great favourite with any one.

It was curious now to watch the eager and envious interest she took in the progress of her sister's adornment--for such was the degree of relationship in which she stood to the May Queen--and when the surcoat was finally adjusted, and the last riband tied, she broke forth, having hitherto preserved a sullen silence.
[Illustration: THE MAY QUEEN.] "Weel, sister Alizon, ye may a farrently May Queen, ey mun say" she observed, spitefully, "but to my mind other Suky Worseley, or Nancy Holt, here, would ha' looked prottier." "Nah, nah, that we shouldna," rejoined one of the damsels referred to; "there is na a lass i' Lonkyshiar to hold a condle near Alizon Device." "Fie upon ye, for an ill-favort minx, Jennet," cried Nancy Holt; "yo're jealous o' your protty sister." "Ey jealous," cried Jennet, reddening, "an whoy the firrups should ey be jealous, ey, thou saucy jade! Whon ey grow older ey'st may a prottier May Queen than onny on you, an so the lads aw tell me." "And so you will, Jennet," said Alizon Device, checking, by a gentle look, the jeering laugh in which Nancy seemed disposed to indulge--"so you will, my pretty little sister," she added, kissing her; "and I will 'tire you as well and as carefully as Susan and Nancy have just 'tired me." "Mayhap ey shanna live till then," rejoined Jennet, peevishly, "and when ey'm dead an' gone, an' laid i' t' cowld churchyard, yo an they win be sorry fo having werreted me so." "I have never intentionally vexed you, Jennet, love," said Alizon, "and I am sure these two girls love you dearly." "Eigh, we may allowance fo her feaw tempers," observed Susan Worseley; "fo we knoa that ailments an deformities are sure to may folk fretful." "Eigh, there it is," cried Jennet, sharply.

"My high shoulthers an sma size are always thrown i' my feace.

Boh ey'st grow tall i' time, an get straight--eigh straighter than yo, Suky, wi' your broad back an short neck--boh if ey dunna, whot matters it?
Ey shall be feared at onny rate--ay, feared, wenches, by ye both." "Nah doubt on't, theaw little good-fo'-nothin piece o' mischief," muttered Susan.
"Whot's that yo sayn, Suky ?" cried Jennet, whose quick ears had caught the words, "Tak care whot ye do to offend me, lass," she added, shaking her thin fingers, armed with talon-like claws, threateningly at her, "or ey'll ask my granddame, Mother Demdike, to quieten ye." At the mention of this name a sudden shade came over Susan's countenance.

Changing colour, and slightly trembling, she turned away from the child, who, noticing the effect of her threat, could not repress her triumph.