rtunate mother might yet escape the wrath of Mr. Parris.

"It is all the work of Samuel Parris," declared Mrs. Stevens. "Because
Goody Nurse opposed his ministry, he seeks revenge."

"Parris is an unworthy man," Charles declared.

Before he could say more, Cora Waters, who had posted herself as a
sentry at the door said:

"Here comes Ann Putnam."

At mention of this woman's name, both Charles and his mother became
silent. She was the mother of one of the afflicted children, and was
herself of high nervous temperament, undisciplined in mind, and an
absolute devotee to her pastor. She was at this time about thirty years
of age, with blue eyes, brown hair and face fair and round. As she
entered the door, almost out of breath, she cried:

"I come, Goody Stevens, to be the bearer of what I trust will be welcome
tidings. Goody Nurse hath been arrested and sent to prison for her
grievously tormenting the family of Mr. Parris and myself."

"Can you suspect that such news will be welcome tidings in this home?"
cried Mrs. Stevens. "Ann Putnam, truly you must believe that I am
unworthy to be called woman, if you think I can rejoice at the downfall
of that good woman."

"Good woman!" shrieked Ann Putnam, stamping her foot on the floor with
such force as to make the house quiver. "Good woman! She is a witch! She
opposed our beloved pastor his stipend; she wished to remove him, and
because she failed, she now assails his household with her witchcraft.
Oh, vile creature, I would I had never seen her!"

"Ann Putnam, you are deluded."

"Deluded!" shrieked Ann Putnam, her eyes flashing with fire. "Could you
all but see me in my sore afflictions, could you but know the fits I
have, and witness the suffering of her victims, you would not call it
delusion."

"Ann Putnam, Mr. Parris has so wrought upon your imagination, that you
are insane."

At the attempt to impute anything evil to her beloved pastor, Ann
Putnam's rage knew no bounds, and, in a voice choking with wrath, she
declared that Mr. Parris was the most saintly man living.

"His zeal for the cause of Christ hath brought down upon him the wrath
of the worldly minded. He is a saint--a glorious saint, and because he
denounced Cora Waters for being the child of a player, you would malign
him."

"Ann Putnam," interrupted Charles Stevens, "you have no right to impugn
the motives of my mother, nor to assail our guest. The zeal of Mr.
Parris has made a monster of him. He