When addressed, she seemed to arouse from a sort of stupor,
unwillingly forcing a reply. "She is bewitched," thought Giles. He had
his suspicions; but he could not confidently point out the source of the
mischief.
One evening, as Goody Dickisson was sitting alone, pondering and
discontented, there came in one Mal Spencer, a dark and scowling hag, to
whom Giles bore no good-will. He had beforetime forbidden his wife to
hold any intercourse with this witch-woman, who was an object generally
of suspicion and mistrust. If the "evil eye" can be supposed to inhabit
a human frame, this old woman had an undisputed claim to its possession.
This night, however, old Molly came hobbling in without further ceremony
than a "Good e'en, thou Dickisson wife," and took her seat opposite the
dame in the miller's own chair. "Aroynt thee, witch," should have been
returned to such an ill-omened salute; but the miller's wife was either
unwilling or unable to utter this well-known preservative against the
malice of the Evil Ones.
The horse-shoe had been taken down from the door, and the blessed herb,
moly, was incautiously thrown aside; neither had Goody Dickisson offered
up the usual petition that evening, to be defended from the snares of
the devil.
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