maids and their affliction, as if you were a witch
yourself?

_Giles._ I said not so! Martha, I said it not so!

_Hathorne._ What say you to your husband's charge that you did
afflict his ox and cat, causing his ox to fall in the yard, and the
cat to be strangely sick?

_Giles._ Devil take the ox and the cat! I said not that she did
afflict them.

_Hathorne._ Peace, Goodman Corey; you are now in court.

_Martha._ I say, if a gospel woman is to be hung as a witch for
every stumbling ox and sick cat, 'tis setting a high value upon oxen
and cats.

_Giles._ I would mine had all been knocked in the head, lass, and
me too!

_Hathorne._ Peace! Ann Hutchins, what saw you when Goodwife Corey
went home with you through the wood?

_Ann._ Hold fast her hands, I pray, or she will kill me. The trees
were so full of yellow birds that it sounded as if a mighty wind
passed over them, and the birds lit on Goody Corey's head. And black
beasts ran alongside through the bushes, which did break and
crackle, and they were at Goody Corey and me to go to the witch
dance on the hill. And they said to bring Olive Corey and Paul
Bayley. And Goody Corey told them how she and Olive would presently
come, but not Paul, for he never would sign the book, not even
though Olive trapped him by the arts they had taught her. And Goody
Corey showed me the book then, and besought me to sign, and go with
her to the dance. And when I would not, she and Olive also afflicted
me so grievously that I thought I could not live, and have done so
ever since.

_Hathorne._ What say you to this, Goodwife Corey?

_Martha._ I pray your worship believe not what she doth charge
against my daughter.

_Corwin._ Mercy Lewis, do you say that you have seen both of the
accused afflicting Ann Hutchins?

_Mercy._ Yes, your worship, many a time have I seen them pressing
her to sign the book, and afflicting when she would not.

_Corwin._ How looked the book?

_Mercy._ 'Twas black, your worship, with blood-red clasps.

_Corwin._ Read you the names in it?

_Mercy._ I strove to, your worship, but I got not through the C's;
there were too many of them.

_Hathorne._ Let the serving-woman, Nancy Fox, come hither.

[Nancy Fox _makes her way to the front._

_Hathorne._ Nancy, I have heard that your mistress afflicts you.

_Nancy._ That she doth.

_Hathorne._ In what manner?

_Nancy._ She sendeth me to bed at first candlelight as though I
wer