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W. Jacobs: Part 6 +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin: 15%; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + PRE { font-family: cursive} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Breaking A Spell, by W.W. Jacobs + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Breaking A Spell + Odd Craft, Part 6. + +Author: W.W. Jacobs + +Release Date: April 29, 2004 [EBook #12206] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: US-ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BREAKING A SPELL *** + + + + +Produced by David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<br><br> +<center> +<img alt="title (42K)" src="title.jpg" height="658" width="479" /> +</center> +<br><br> +<br /><br /> +<h2> + 1909 +</h2> + +<center> +<h3>PART 6.</h3> +</center> + +<br /><br /> +<hr> +<br /><br /> + + +<h2>List of Illustrations</h2> + + + + + + + +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-27"> +"He Got 'imself Very Much Liked, Especially by the Old +Ladies." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-28"> +"Mrs. Prince Was Sitting at 'er Front Door Nursing 'er +Three Cats." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-29"> +"He Took It Round, and Everybody 'ad a Look at It." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-30"> +"She Sat Listening Quite Quiet at Fust." +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#image-31"> +"The Doctor Felt 'is Pulse and Looked at 'is Tongue." +</a></p> + + + + + + +<br /><br /> +<hr> +<br /><br /> + + + + + + + +<a name="2H_4_6"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h2> + BREAKING A SPELL +</h2> +<p> + "Witchcraft?" said the old man, thoughtfully, as he scratched his scanty + whiskers. No, I ain't heard o' none in these parts for a long time. + There used to be a little of it about when I was a boy, and there was + some talk of it arter I'd growed up, but Claybury folk never took much + count of it. The last bit of it I remember was about forty years ago, + and that wasn't so much witchcraft as foolishness. +</p> +<p> + There was a man in this place then—Joe Barlcomb by name—who was a firm + believer in it, and 'e used to do all sorts of things to save hisself + from it. He was a new-comer in Claybury, and there was such a lot of it + about in the parts he came from that the people thought o' nothing else + hardly. +</p> +<p> + He was a man as got 'imself very much liked at fust, especially by the + old ladies, owing to his being so perlite to them, that they used to 'old + 'im up for an example to the other men, and say wot nice, pretty ways he + 'ad. Joe Barlcomb was everything at fust, but when they got to 'ear that + his perliteness was because 'e thought 'arf of 'em was witches, and + didn't know which 'arf, they altered their minds. +</p> +<a name="image-27"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="027.jpg" height="376" width="556" +alt="'he Got 'imself Very Much Liked, Especially by the Old +Ladies.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + In a month or two he was the laughing-stock of the place; but wot was + worse to 'im than that was that he'd made enemies of all the old ladies. + Some of 'em was free-spoken women, and 'e couldn't sleep for thinking of + the 'arm they might do 'im. +</p> +<p> + He was terrible uneasy about it at fust, but, as nothing 'appened and he + seemed to go on very prosperous-like, 'e began to forget 'is fears, when + all of a sudden 'e went 'ome one day and found 'is wife in bed with a + broken leg. +</p> +<p> + She was standing on a broken chair to reach something down from the + dresser when it 'appened, and it was pointed out to Joe Barlcomb that it + was a thing anybody might ha' done without being bewitched; but he said + 'e knew better, and that they'd kept that broken chair for standing on + for years and years to save the others, and nothing 'ad ever 'appened + afore. +</p> +<p> + In less than a week arter that three of his young 'uns was down with the + measles, and, 'is wife being laid up, he sent for 'er mother to come and + nurse 'em. It's as true as I sit 'ere, but that pore old lady 'adn't + been in the house two hours afore she went to bed with the yellow + jaundice. +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb went out of 'is mind a'most. He'd never liked 'is wife's + mother, and he wouldn't 'ave had 'er in the house on'y 'e wanted her to + nurse 'is wife and children, and when she came and laid up and wanted + waiting on 'e couldn't dislike her enough. +</p> +<p> + He was quite certain all along that somebody was putting a spell on 'im, + and when 'e went out a morning or two arterward and found 'is best pig + lying dead in a corner of the sty he gave up and, going into the 'ouse, + told 'em all that they'd 'ave to die 'cause he couldn't do anything more + for 'em. His wife's mother and 'is wife and the children all started + crying together, and Joe Barlcomb, when 'e thought of 'is pig, he sat + down and cried too. +</p> +<p> + He sat up late that night thinking it over, and, arter looking at it all + ways, he made up 'is mind to go and see Mrs. Prince, an old lady that + lived all alone by 'erself in a cottage near Smith's farm. He'd set 'er + down for wot he called a white witch, which is the best kind and on'y do + useful things, such as charming warts away or telling gals about their + future 'usbands; and the next arternoon, arter telling 'is wife's mother + that fresh air and travelling was the best cure for the yellow jaundice, + he set off to see 'er. +</p> +<a name="image-28"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="028.jpg" height="523" width="514" +alt="'mrs. Prince Was Sitting at 'er Front Door Nursing 'er +Three Cats.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + Mrs. Prince was sitting at 'er front door nursing 'er three cats when 'e + got there. She was an ugly, little old woman with piercing black eyes + and a hook nose, and she 'ad a quiet, artful sort of a way with 'er that + made 'er very much disliked. One thing was she was always making fun of + people, and for another she seemed to be able to tell their thoughts, and + that don't get anybody liked much, especially when they don't keep it to + theirselves. She'd been a lady's maid all 'er young days, and it was + very 'ard to be taken for a witch just because she was old. +</p> +<p> + "Fine day, ma'am," ses Joe Barlcomb. +</p> +<p> + "Very fine," ses Mrs. Prince. +</p> +<p> + "Being as I was passing, I just thought I'd look in," ses Joe Barlcomb, + eyeing the cats. +</p> +<p> + "Take a chair," ses Mrs. Prince, getting up and dusting one down with 'er + apron. +</p> +<p> + Joe sat down. "I'm in a bit o' trouble, ma'am," he ses, "and I thought + p'r'aps as you could help me out of it. My pore pig's been bewitched, + and it's dead." +</p> +<p> + "Bewitched?" ses Mrs. Prince, who'd 'eard of 'is ideas. "Rubbish. Don't + talk to me." +</p> +<p> + "It ain't rubbish, ma'am," ses Joe Barlcomb; "three o' my children is + down with the measles, my wife's broke 'er leg, 'er mother is laid up in + my little place with the yellow jaundice, and the pig's dead." +</p> +<p> + "Wot, another one?" ses Mrs. Prince. +</p> +<p> + "No; the same one," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "Well, 'ow am I to help you?" ses Mrs. Prince. "Do you want me to come + and nurse 'em?" +</p> +<p> + "No, no," ses Joe, starting and turning pale; "unless you'd like to come + and nurse my wife's mother," he ses, arter thinking a bit. "I was hoping + that you'd know who'd been overlooking me and that you'd make 'em take + the spell off." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prince got up from 'er chair and looked round for the broom she'd + been sweeping with, but, not finding it, she set down agin and stared in + a curious sort o' way at Joe Barlcomb. +</p> +<p> + "Oh, I see," she ses, nodding. "Fancy you guessing I was a witch." +</p> +<p> + "You can't deceive me," ses Joe; "I've 'ad too much experience; I knew it + the fust time I saw you by the mole on your nose." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prince got up and went into her back-place, trying her 'ardest to + remember wot she'd done with that broom. She couldn't find it anywhere, + and at last she came back and sat staring at Joe for so long that 'e was + 'arf frightened out of his life. And by-and-by she gave a 'orrible smile + and sat rubbing the side of 'er nose with 'er finger. +</p> +<p> + "If I help you," she ses at last, "will you promise to keep it a dead + secret and do exactly as I tell you? If you don't, dead pigs'll be + nothing to the misfortunes that you will 'ave." +</p> +<p> + "I will," ses Joe Barlcomb, very pale. +</p> +<p> + "The spell," ses Mrs. Prince, holding up her 'ands and shutting 'er eyes, + "was put upon you by a man. It is one out of six men as is jealous of + you because you're so clever, but which one it is I can't tell without + your assistance. Have you got any money?" +</p> +<p> + "A little," ses Joe, anxious-like— "a very little. Wot with the yellow + jaundice and other things, I——" +</p> +<p> + "Fust thing to do," ses Mrs. Prince, still with her eyes shut, "you go up + to the Cauliflower to-night; the six men'll all be there, and you must + buy six ha'pennies off of them; one each." +</p> +<p> + "Buy six ha'pennies?" ses Joe, staring at her. +</p> +<p> + "Don't repeat wot I say," ses Mrs. Prince; "it's unlucky. You buy six + ha'pennies for a shilling each, without saying wot it's for. You'll be + able to buy 'em all right if you're civil." +</p> +<p> + "It seems to me it don't need much civility for that," ses Joe, pulling a + long face. +</p> +<p> + "When you've got the ha'pennies," ses Mrs. Prince, "bring 'em to me and + I'll tell you wot to do with 'em. Don't lose no time, because I can see + that something worse is going to 'appen if it ain't prevented." +</p> +<p> + "Is it anything to do with my wife's mother getting worse?" ses Joe + Barlcomb, who was a careful man and didn't want to waste six shillings. +</p> +<p> + "No, something to you," ses Mrs. Prince. +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb went cold all over, and then he put down a couple of eggs + he'd brought round for 'er and went off 'ome agin, and Mrs. Prince stood + in the doorway with a cat on each shoulder and watched 'im till 'e was + out of sight. +</p> +<p> + That night Joe Barlcomb came up to this 'ere Cauliflower public-house, + same as he'd been told, and by-and-by, arter he 'ad 'ad a pint, he looked + round, and taking a shilling out of 'is pocket put it on the table, and + he ses, "Who'll give me a ha'penny for that?" he ses. +</p> +<p> + None of 'em seemed to be in a hurry. Bill Jones took it up and bit it, + and rang it on the table and squinted at it, and then he bit it agin, and + turned round and asked Joe Barlcomb wot was wrong with it. +</p> +<p> + "Wrong?" ses Joe; "nothing." +</p> +<p> + Bill Jones put it down agin. "You're wide awake, Joe," he ses, "but so + am I." +</p> +<p> + "Won't nobody give me a ha'penny for it?" ses Joe, looking round. +</p> +<p> + Then Peter Lamb came up, and he looked at it and rang it, and at last he + gave Joe a ha'penny for it and took it round, and everybody 'ad a look at + it. +</p> +<a name="image-29"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="029.jpg" height="515" width="561" +alt="'he Took It Round, and Everybody 'ad a Look at It.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "It stands to reason it's a bad 'un," ses Bill Jones, "but it's so well + done I wish as I'd bought it." +</p> +<p> + "H-s-h!" ses Peter Lamb; "don't let the landlord 'ear you." +</p> +<p> + The landlord 'ad just that moment come in, and Peter walked up and + ordered a pint, and took his ten-pence change as bold as brass. Arter + that Joe Barbcomb bought five more ha'pennies afore you could wink + a'most, and every man wot sold one went up to the bar and 'ad a pint and + got tenpence change, and drank Joe Barlcomb's health. +</p> +<p> + "There seems to be a lot o' money knocking about to-night," ses the + landlord, as Sam Martin, the last of 'em, was drinking 'is pint. +</p> +<p> + Sam Martin choked and put 'is pot down on the counter with a bang, and + him and the other five was out o' that door and sailing up the road with + their tenpences afore the landlord could get his breath. He stood to the + bar scratching his 'ead and staring, but he couldn't understand it a bit + till a man wot was too late to sell his ha'penny up and told 'im all + about it. The fuss 'e made was terrible. The shillings was in a little + heap on a shelf at the back o' the bar, and he did all sorts o' things to + 'em to prove that they was bad, and threatened Joe Barlcomb with the + police. At last, however, 'e saw wot a fool he was making of himself, + and arter nearly breaking his teeth 'e dropped them into a drawer and + stirred 'em up with the others. +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb went round the next night to see Mrs. Prince, and she asked + 'im a lot o' questions about the men as 'ad sold 'im the ha'pennies. +</p> +<p> + "The fust part 'as been done very well," she ses, nodding her 'ead at + 'im; "if you do the second part as well, you'll soon know who your enemy + is." +</p> +<p> + "Nothing'll bring the pig back," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "There's worse misfortunes than that, as I've told you," ses Mrs. Prince, + sharply. "Now, listen to wot I'm going to say to you. When the clock + strikes twelve to-night——" +</p> +<p> + "Our clock don't strike," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "Then you must borrow one that does," ses Mrs. Prince, "and when it + strikes twelve you must go round to each o' them six men and sell them a + ha'penny for a shilling." +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb looked at 'er. "'Ow?" he ses, short-like. +</p> +<p> + "Same way as you sold 'em a shilling for a ha'-penny," ses Mrs. Prince; + "it don't matter whether they buy the ha'pennies or not. All you've got + to do is to go and ask 'em, and the man as makes the most fuss is the man + that 'as put the trouble on you." +</p> +<p> + "It seems a roundabout way o' going to work," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "<i>Wot!</i>" screams Mrs. Prince, jumping up and waving her arms about. + "<i>Wot!</i> Go your own way; I'll have nothing more to do with you. And + don't blame me for anything that happens. It's a very bad thing to come + to a witch for advice and then not to do as she tells you. You ought to + know that." +</p> +<p> + "I'll do it, ma'am," ses Joe Barlcomb, trembling. +</p> +<p> + "You'd better," ses Mrs. Prince; "and mind—not a word to anybody." +</p> +<p> + Joe promised her agin, and 'e went off and borrered a clock from Albert + Price, and at twelve o'clock that night he jumped up out of bed and began + to dress 'imself and pretend not to 'ear his wife when she asked 'im + where he was going. +</p> +<p> + It was a dark, nasty sort o' night, blowing and raining, and, o' course, + everybody 'ad gone to bed long since. The fust cottage Joe came to was + Bill Jones's, and, knowing Bill's temper, he stood for some time afore he + could make up 'is mind to knock; but at last he up with 'is stick and + banged away at the door. +</p> +<p> + A minute arterward he 'eard the bedroom winder pushed open, and then Bill + Jones popped his 'cad out and called to know wot was the matter and who + it was. +</p> +<p> + "It's me—Joe Barlcomb," ses Joe, "and I want to speak to you very + partikler." +</p> +<p> + "Well, speak away," ses Bill. "You go into the back room," he ses, + turning to his wife. +</p> +<p> + "Whaffor?" ses Mrs. Jones. +</p> +<p> + "'Cos I don't know wot Joe is going to say," ses Bill. "You go in now, + afore I make you." +</p> +<p> + His wife went off grumbling, and then Bill told Joe Barlcomb to hurry up + wot he'd got to say as 'e 'adn't got much on and the weather wasn't as + warm as it might be. +</p> +<p> + "I sold you a shilling for a ha'penny last night, Bill," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "Do you want to sell any more?" ses Bill Jones, putting his 'and down to + where 'is trouser pocket ought to be. +</p> +<p> + "Not exactly that," ses Joe Barlcomb. "This time I want you to sell me a + shilling for a ha'penny." +</p> +<p> + Bill leaned out of the winder and stared down at Joe Barlcomb, and then + he ses, in a choking voice, "Is that wot you've come disturbing my sleep + for at this time o' night?" he ses. +</p> +<p> + "I must 'ave it, Bill," ses Joe. +</p> +<p> + "Well, if you'll wait a moment," ses Bill, trying to speak perlitely, + "I'll come down and give it to you." +</p> +<p> + Joe didn't like 'is tone of voice, but he waited, and all of a sudden + Bill Jones came out o' that door like a gun going off and threw 'imself + on Joe Barlcomb. Both of 'em was strong men, and by the time they'd + finished they was so tired they could 'ardly stand. Then Bill Jones went + back to bed, and Joe Barlcomb, arter sitting down on the doorstep to rest + 'imself, went off and knocked up Peter Lamb. +</p> +<p> + Peter Lamb was a little man and no good as a fighter, but the things he + said to Joe Barlcomb as he leaned out o' the winder and shook 'is fist at + him was 'arder to bear than blows. He screamed away at the top of 'is + voice for ten minutes, and then 'e pulled the winder to with a bang and + went back to bed. +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb was very tired, but he walked on to Jasper Potts's 'ouse, + trying 'ard as he walked to decide which o' the fust two 'ad made the + most fuss. Arter he 'ad left Jasper Potts 'e got more puzzled than ever, + Jasper being just as bad as the other two, and Joe leaving 'im at last in + the middle of loading 'is gun. +</p> +<p> + By the time he'd made 'is last call—at Sam Martin's—it was past three + o'clock, and he could no more tell Mrs. Prince which 'ad made the most + fuss than 'e could fly. There didn't seem to be a pin to choose between + 'em, and, 'arf worried out of 'is life, he went straight on to Mrs. + Prince and knocked 'er up to tell 'er. She thought the 'ouse was afire + at fust, and came screaming out o' the front door in 'er bedgown, and + when she found out who it was she was worse to deal with than the men 'ad + been. +</p> +<p> + She 'ad quieted down by the time Joe went round to see 'er the next + evening, and asked 'im to describe exactly wot the six men 'ad done and + said. She sat listening quite quiet at fust, but arter a time she scared + Joe by making a odd, croupy sort o' noise in 'er throat, and at last she + got up and walked into the back-place. She was there a long time making + funny noises, and at last Joe walked toward the door on tip-toe and + peeped through the crack and saw 'er in a sort o' fit, sitting in a chair + with 'er arms folded acrost her bodice and rocking 'erself up and down + and moaning. Joe stood as if 'e'd been frozen a'most, and then 'e crept + back to 'is seat and waited, and when she came into the room agin she + said as the trouble 'ad all been caused by Bill Jones. She sat still for + nearly 'arf an hour, thinking 'ard, and then she turned to Joe and ses: +</p> +<a name="image-30"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="030.jpg" height="391" width="446" +alt="'she Sat Listening Quite Quiet at Fust.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "Can you read?" she ses. +</p> +<p> + "No," ses Joe, wondering wot was coming next. +</p> +<p> + "That's all right, then," she ses, "because if you could I couldn't do + wot I'm going to do." +</p> +<p> + "That shows the 'arm of eddication," ses Joe. "I never did believe in + it." +</p> +<p> + Mrs. Prince nodded, and then she went and got a bottle with something in + it which looked to Joe like gin, and arter getting out 'er pen and ink + and printing some words on a piece o' paper she stuck it on the bottle, + and sat looking at Joe and thinking. +</p> +<p> + "Take this up to the Cauliflower," she ses, "make friends with Bill + Jones, and give him as much beer as he'll drink, and give 'im a little o' + this gin in each mug. If he drinks it the spell will be broken, and + you'll be luckier than you 'ave ever been in your life afore. When 'e's + drunk some, and not before, leave the bottle standing on the table." +</p> +<p> + Joe Barlcomb thanked 'er, and with the bottle in 'is pocket went off to + the Cauliflower, whistling. Bill Jones was there, and Peter Lamb, and + two or three more of 'em, and at fust they said some pretty 'ard things + to him about being woke up in the night. +</p> +<p> + "Don't bear malice, Bill," ses Joe Barlcomb; "'ave a pint with me." +</p> +<p> + He ordered two pints, and then sat down along-side o' Bill, and in five + minutes they was like brothers. +</p> +<p> + "'Ave a drop o' gin in it, Bill," he ses, taking the bottle out of 'is + pocket. +</p> +<p> + Bill thanked 'im and had a drop, and then, thoughtful-like, he wanted Joe + to 'ave some in his too, but Joe said no, he'd got a touch o' toothache, + and it was bad for it. +</p> +<p> + "I don't mind 'aving a drop in my beer, Joe," ses Peter Lamb. +</p> +<p> + "Not to-night, mate," ses Joe; "it's all for Bill. I bought it on + purpose for 'im." +</p> +<p> + Bill shook 'ands with him, and when Joe called for another pint and put + some more gin in it he said that 'e was the noblest-'arted man that ever + lived. +</p> +<p> + "You wasn't saying so 'arf an hour ago," ses Peter Lamb. +</p> +<p> + "'Cos I didn't know 'im so well then," ses Bill Jones. +</p> +<p> + "You soon change your mind, don't you?" ses Peter. +</p> +<p> + Bill didn't answer 'im. He was leaning back on the bench and staring at + the bottle as if 'e couldn't believe his eyesight. His face was all + white and shining, and 'is hair as wet as if it 'ad just been dipped in a + bucket o' water. +</p> +<p> + "See a ghost, Bill?" ses Peter, looking at 'im. +</p> +<p> + Bill made a 'orrible noise in his throat, and kept on staring at the + bottle till they thought 'e'd gone crazy. Then Jasper Potts bent his + 'ead down and began to read out loud wot was on the bottle. "P-o-i— + POISON FOR BILL JONES," he ses, in a voice as if 'e couldn't believe it. +</p> +<p> + You might 'ave heard a pin drop. Everybody turned and looked at Bill + Jones, as he sat there trembling all over. Then those that could read + took up the bottle and read it out loud all over agin. +</p> +<p> + "Pore Bill," ses Peter Lamb. "I 'ad a feeling come over me that + something was wrong." +</p> +<p> + "You're a murderer," ses Sam Martin, catching 'old of Joe Barlcomb. + "You'll be 'ung for this. Look at pore Bill, cut off in 'is prime." +</p> +<p> + "Run for the doctor," ses someone. +</p> +<p> + Two of 'em ran off as 'ard as they could go, and then the landlord came + round the bar and asked Bill to go and die outside, because 'e didn't + want to be brought into it. Jasper Potts told 'im to clear off, and then + he bent down and asked Bill where the pain was. +</p> +<p> + "I don't think he'll 'ave much pain," ses Peter Lamb, who always + pretended to know a lot more than other people. "It'll soon be over, + Bill." +</p> +<p> + "We've all got to go some day," ses Sam Martin. "Better to die young + than live to be a trouble to yourself," ses Bob Harris. +</p> +<p> + To 'ear them talk everybody seemed to think that Bill Jones was in luck; + everybody but Bill Jones 'imself, that is. +</p> +<p> + "I ain't fit to die," he ses, shivering. "You don't know 'ow bad I've + been." +</p> +<p> + "Wot 'ave you done, Bill?" ses Peter Lamb, in a soft voice. "If it'll + ease your feelings afore you go to make a clean breast of it, we're all + friends here." +</p> +<p> + Bill groaned. +</p> +<p> + "And it's too late for you to be punished for anything," ses Peter, arter + a moment. +</p> +<p> + Bill Jones groaned agin, and then, shaking 'is 'ead, began to w'isper 'is + wrong-doings. When the doctor came in 'arf an hour arterward all the men + was as quiet as mice, and pore Bill was still w'ispering as 'ard as he + could w'isper. +</p> +<p> + The doctor pushed 'em out of the way in a moment, and then 'e bent over + Bill and felt 'is pulse and looked at 'is tongue. Then he listened to + his 'art, and in a puzzled way smelt at the bottle, which Jasper Potts + was a-minding of, and wetted 'is finger and tasted it. +</p> +<a name="image-31"><!--IMG--></a> +<center> +<img src="031.jpg" height="431" width="546" +alt="'the Doctor Felt 'is Pulse and Looked at 'is Tongue.' +"> +</center> +<!--IMAGE END--> +<p> + "Somebody's been making a fool of you and me too," he ses, in a angry + voice. "It's only gin, and very good gin at that. Get up and go home." +</p> +<p> + It all came out next morning, and Joe Barlcomb was the laughing-stock of + the place. Most people said that Mrs. Prince 'ad done quite right, and + they 'oped that it ud be a lesson to him, but nobody ever talked much of + witchcraft in Claybury agin. One thing was that Bill Jones wouldn't 'ave + the word used in 'is hearing. +</p> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Breaking A Spell, by W.W. 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