probable thing for them to do. Then she went to look for her husband,
who, shocking to relate, was quite tipsy, quarrelling and arguing with
the mayor, and she actually saw him box an alderman's ears.

"The thing is proved," said the indignant mayor; "this woman is
certainly a witch."

Kitty was very much bewildered at this; but how much more when she saw
her husband seize the mayor--yes, the very mayor himself--and shake him
so hard that he actually shook his head off, and it rolled under the
dresser! "If I had not seen this with my own eyes," said Kitty, "I could
not have believed it--even now it does not seem at all real."

All the aldermen wrung their hands.

"Murder! murder!" cried the maid.

"Yes," said the aldermen, "this woman and her husband must immediately
be put to death, and the baby must be taken from them and made a slave."

In vain Kitty fell on her knees; the proofs of their guilt were so plain
that there was no hope for mercy; and they were just going to be led out
to execution when--why, then she opened her eyes, and saw that she was
lying in bed in her own little chamber where she had lived and been so
happy; her baby beside her in his wicker[3] cradle was crowing and
sucking his fingers.

[Footnote 3: _Wicker_: made of willow twigs like a basket.]

"So, then, I have never been rich, after all," said Kitty; "and it was
all only a dream! I thought it was very strange at the time that a man's
head should roll off."

And she heaved a deep sigh, and put her hand to her face, which was wet
with the tears she had shed when she thought that she and her husband
were going to be executed.

"I am very glad, then, my husband is not a drunken man; and he does
_not_ beat me; but he goes to work every day, and I am as happy as a
queen."

Just then she heard her husband's good-tempered voice whistling as he
went down the ladder.

"Kitty, Kitty," said he, "come, get up, my little woman; it's later than
usual, and our good visitor will want his breakfast."

"Oh, Will, Will, do come here," answered the wife; and presently her
husband came up again, dressed in his fustian jacket, and looking quite
healthy and good-tempered--not at all like the pale man in the blue
coat, who sat watching the meat while it roasted.

"Oh, Will, I have had such a frightful dream," said Kitty, and she began
to cry; "we are not going to quarrel and hate each other, are we?"

"Why, what a silly little thing thou art to cry