There she was, dressed out. You never sid
the like in they days. Satin and silk, and scarlet and green, and gold
and pint lace; by Jen! 'twas a sight! A big powdered wig, half as high
as herself, was a-top o' her head, and, wow!--was ever such
wrinkles?--and her old baggy throat all powdered white, and her cheeks
rouged, and mouse-skin eyebrows, that Mrs. Wyvern used to stick on, and
there she lay proud and stark, wi' a pair o' clocked silk hose on, and
heels to her shoon as tall as nine-pins. Lawk! But her nose was
crooked and thin, and half the whites o' her eyes was open. She used
to stand, dressed as she was, gigglin' and dribblin' before the
lookin'-glass, wi' a fan in her hand and a big nosegay in her bodice.
Her wrinkled little hands was stretched down by her sides, and such
long nails, all cut into points, I never sid in my days. Could it even
a bin the fashion for grit fowk to wear their fingernails so?
"Well, I think ye'd a-bin frightened yourself if ye'd a sid such a
sight. I couldn't let go the curtain, nor move an inch, nor take my
eyes off her; my very heart stood still. And in an instant she opens
her eyes and up she sits, and spins herself round, and down wi' her,
wi' a clack on her two tall heels on the floor, facin' me, ogglin' in
my face wi' her two great glassy eyes, and a wicked simper wi' her
wrinkled lips, and lang fause teeth.
"Well, a corpse is a natural thing; but this was the dreadfullest
sight I ever sid.
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