Now Time pass’d, and they fell to planning for Freeman’s
     Ball.  ’T was to be a Grand affair, and there was Talk of my
     Aunt’s Frock, and wearing of the Hynds Jewells.  And
     Richard’s Wife was to be Allow’d to wear the Queen’s
     Emerald.

Came Emily to me in secret, and says she, “Come, Jessamine, be Friends with me.  My Mind is Fix’d you shall Outshine all the other Ladies.  I have the very Frock for you, just new come from London, a lustrous thing will make you glow & Sparkle like a Ruby.  We shall make it a State Secret, Jessamine.  Not a word shall be breath’d, but you shall burst upon them all like a Meteor!”

I do admit that ever was something Noble & Generous in Emily, that something in myself did Honour.  I had thank’d her Thought, but that Richard came in & kiss’d her for it, saying he een Lov’d her the Better for that she lov’d his haughty Cozzen.  But, O God, they Two went away Hand in Hand!  He forgot me for her sake, so completely that he said not even, “Good-by.”

That night went I to Shooba secretly, and said, “Is thy Snake awake?  For A Thought is in my mind.”  Then took we Counsel together.  Shooba is a man most cunning in all manner of Herbs and Simples.  They in Hynds House began for to sleep sweetly and soundly, but felt no ill Effects.  Nay, they rose betimes most pleasantly rest’d & refresh’d.

Then did Shooba and I, who thus had undisturb’d Access to my Aunt’s room, work swiftly until Dawn.  Three nights and a half night did we two work, before our Task was compleat’d, the Kernell’s filch’d from the Nuts, and the Empty Shells left for my lady’s adorning of herself at my lord’s birth-night Ball.

Oh, ’t was a rare, rare Jest!  I laugh’d and old Shooba laugh’d.  And I did chap them atween my hands, those flaming Bawbles, as children chap chaff.  And they did sparkle & glow like the Devill his Rainbow!  All day was I Happy, Hugging of my Secret to my Heart.

Emily had the brown dress brought Secretly into the House, & Made for me in mine Own Room.  Once was she wishful I might wear one of the Hynds Rubies, just for one Night, but I chid her, saying that already the Frock was more than Enough.  Indeed ’t is a beautiful Dress.  Will serve me well for a Shroud.

Ever came the Ball nearer & nearer, and all we a-flutter, I with my hands overfull, my hours overcrowd’d, with Helping of them.  I could not have slept in peace did I not know what was a-coming.

And then open’d they the Safe in my Aunt’s morning-room.  Shall be such a Howling from the Damn’d on the Day of Judgment as went up from Hynds House that day!  Makes me to think of the text, And there shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Lord, how did they run Hither & Thither, what Wailing & Reproaching & Accusing & Screeching!