ew back in dismay, while Dr. Mather,
knowing not to whom the name belonged, cried out, in a clear, cold
voice,

'Know ye one Lois Barclay; for it is she who hath bewitched this poor
child?'

The answer was given rather by action than by word, although a low
murmur went up from many. But all fell back, as far as falling back in
such a crowd was possible, from Lois Barclay, where she stood,--and
looked on her with surprise and horror. A space of some feet, where no
possibility of space had seemed to be not a minute before, left Lois
standing alone, with every eye fixed upon her in hatred and dread. She
stood like one speechless, tongue-tied, as if in a dream. She a witch!
accursed as witches were in the sight of God and man! Her smooth,
healthy face became contracted into shrivel and pallor, but she uttered
not a word, only looked at Dr. Mather with her dilated, terrified eyes.

Some one said, 'She is of the household of Grace Hickson, a God-fearing
woman.' Lois did not know if the words were in her favour or not. She
did not think about them, even; they told less on her than on any
person present. She a witch! and the silver glittering Avon, and the
drowning woman she had seen in her childhood at Barford,--at home in
England,--were before her, and her eyes fell before her doom. There was
some commotion--some rustling of papers; the magistrates of the town
were drawing near the pulpit and consulting with the ministers. Dr.
Mather spoke again:

'The Indian woman, who was hung this morning, named certain people,
whom she deposed to having seen at the horrible meetings for the
worship of Satan; but there is no name of Lois Barclay down upon the
paper, although we are stricken at the sight of the names of some----'

An interruption--a consultation. Again Dr. Mather spoke:

'Bring the accused witch, Lois Barclay, near to this poor suffering
child of Christ.'

They rushed forward to force Lois to the place where Prudence lay. But
Lois walked forward of herself.

'Prudence,' she said, in such a sweet, touching voice, that, long
afterwards, those who heard it that day, spoke of it to their children,
'have I ever said an unkind word to you, much less done you an ill
turn? Speak, dear child. You did not know what you said just now, did
you?'

But Prudence writhed away from her approach, and screamed out, as if
stricken with fresh agony.

'Take her away! take her away! Witch Lois, witch Lois, who threw me
down only thi