"I am glad of it," said Mrs. Marks sneeringly, "for it's a precious little I think of either her or her sayings."
"She went through the 'pike same time as 'other did, and told me all about him."
"Why don't you be minding your own business, instead of talking and gossiping with every tom-fool you meet."
"She's no woman to gossip with, or fool either; she made me tremble and shake again, even the fire don't warm me," said he, lighting his pipe and settling himself in the chimney corner.
"I'll take your word for her having scared you. There's few as couldn't do that easy enough."
Matthew's hand went instinctively into his pocket; he could scarcely refrain from trying the effect of the charm, but it was growing dusk, and he was afraid that for that night at least it was too late.
"Wait a bit," said he in a low voice, "Wait a bit;" but his wife heard him.
"Was that what she said?" asked she.
"No, she said—" and Matthew took the pipe out of his mouth so that he might be heard the plainer, "she said; 'all trees wither the first as looks fat and strong.' That's what she said."