Audrey

"Where is the rescued fair one?" continued the gentleman who, for his own

pleasure, had led the conservers of law and order. "Produce the sibyl,

honest Dogberry! Faith, if the lady be not an ingrate, you've henceforth a

friend at court!"

"My name is Saunders,--Dick Saunders, your Honor," quoth the constable.

"For the witch, she lies quiet on the ground beneath the cedar yonder."

"She won't speak!" cried another. "She just lies there trembling, with her

face in her hands."

"But she said, 'O Christ!' when we took her from the water," put in a

third.

"She was nigh drowned," ended the constable. "And I'm a-tremble myself,

the water was that cold. Wauns! I wish I were in the chimney corner at the

Court House ordinary!"

The master of Westover flung his riding cloak to one of the constable's

men. "Wrap it around the shivering iniquity on the ground yonder; and you,

Tom Hope, that brought warning of what your neighbors would do, mount and

take the witch behind you. Master Constable, you will lodge Hecate in the

gaol to-night, and in the morning bring her up to the great house. We

would inquire why a lady so accomplished that she can dry a mill stream to

plague a miller cannot drain a pool to save herself from drowning!"

At a crossing of the ways, shortly before Court House, gaol, and ordinary

were reached, the adventurous Colonel gave a good-night to the constable

and his company, and, with a negro servant at his heels, rode gayly on

beneath the stars to his house at Westover. Hardy, alert, in love with

living, he was well amused by the night's proceedings. The incident should

figure in his next letter to Orrery or to his cousin Taylor.

It figured largely in the table-talk next morning, when the sprightly

gentleman sat at breakfast with his daughter and his second wife, a fair

and youthful kinswoman of Martha and Teresa Blount. The gentleman,

launched upon the subject of witchcraft, handled it with equal wit and

learning. The ladies thought that the water must have been very cold, and

trusted that the old dame was properly grateful, and would, after such a

lesson, leave her evil practices. As they were rising from table, word was

brought to the master that constable and witch were outside.

The Colonel kissed his wife, promised his daughter to be merciful, and,

humming a song, went through the hall to the open house door and the

broad, three-sided steps of stone. The constable was awaiting him.

"Here be mysteries, your Honor! As I serve the King, 't weren't Goody

Price for whom I ruined my new frieze, but a slip of a girl!" He waved his

hand. "Will your Honor please to look?"