ime with those of Sir William Ashton's daughter? Young man, he who aims
at revenge by dishonourable means----"

"Be silent, woman!" said Ravenswood, sternly; "it is the devil that
prompts your voice? Know that this young lady has not on earth a friend
who would venture farther to save her from injury or from insult."

"And is it even so?" said the old woman, in an altered but melancholy
tone, "then God help you both!"

"Amen! Alice," said Lucy, who had not comprehended the import of what
the blind woman had hinted, "and send you your senses, Alice, and your
good humour. If you hold this mysterious language, instead of welcoming
your friends, they will think of you as other people do."

"And how do other people think?" said Ravenswood, for he also began to
believe the old woman spoke with incoherence.

"They think," said Henry Ashton, who came up at that moment, and
whispered into Ravenswood's ear, "that she is a witch, that should have
been burned with them that suffered at Haddington."

"What is it you say?" said Alice, turning towards the boy, her sightless
visage inflamed with passion; "that I am a witch, and ought to
have suffered with the helpless old wretches who were murdered at
Haddington?"

"Hear to that now," again whispered Henry, "and me whispering lower than
a wren cheeps!"

"If the usurer, and the oppressor, and the grinder of the poor man's
face, and the remover of ancient landmarks, and the subverter of ancient
houses, were at the same stake with me, I could say, 'Light the fire, in
God's name!'"

"This is dreadful," said Lucy; "I have never seen the poor deserted
woman in this state of mind; but age and poverty can ill bear reproach.
Come, Henry, we will leave her for the present; she wishes to speak
with the Master alone. We will walk homeward, and rest us," she added,
looking at Ravenswood, "by the Mermaiden's Well." "And Alice," said the
boy, "if you know of any hare that comes through among the deer, and
makes them drop their calves out of season, you may tell her, with my
compliments to command, that if Norman has not got a silver bullet ready
for her, I'll lend him one of my doublet-buttons on purpose."

Alice made no answer till she was aware that the sister and brother were
out of hearing. She then said to Ravenswood: "And you, too, are angry
with me for my love? It is just that strangers should be offended, but
you, too, are angry!"

"I am not angry, Alice," said the Master, "only