beldame

And really she was an awfully nice, capable, human old woman: and I had thought her a beldame when I saw her ironing.

But no single syllable would the old beldame now utter against her ancient mistress.

And to the horror of Erminie, he grasped the cloak and tore it off, in spite of the vigorous struggles of the beldame.

And at that the beldame laughed very violently and said, "Yea, that is true."

And they whispered to the old beldame, saying, "Who is yonder man, and what doth he here?"