“No more of this, in pity!” cried Alizon.

“Often have I aided thy mother in her dark schemes,” pursued the implacable hag; “nay, no later than last night I obliterated the old boundaries of her land, and erected new marks to serve her.  It was a strong exercise of power; but the command came to me, and I obeyed it.  No other witch could have achieved so much, not even the accursed Chattox, and she is next to myself.  And how does thy mother purpose to requite me?  By thrusting me aside, and stepping into my throne.”

“You must be in error,” cried Alizon, scarcely knowing what to say.

“My information never fails me,” replied the hag, with a disdainful laugh.  “Her plans are made known to me as soon as formed.  I have those about her who keep strict watch upon her actions, and report them faithfully.  I know why she brought thee so suddenly to Rough Lee, though thou know’st it not.”

“She brought me there for safety,” remarked the young girl, hoping to allay the beldame’s fury, “and because she herself desired to know how the survey of the boundaries would end.”

“She brought thee there to sacrifice thee to the Fiend!” cried the hag, infernal rage and malice blazing in her eyes.  “She failed in propitiating him at the meeting in the ruined church of Whalley last night, when thou thyself wert present, and deliveredst Dorothy Assheton from the snare in which she was taken.  And since then all has gone wrong with her.  Having demanded from her familiar the cause why all things ran counter, she was told she had failed in the fulfilment of her promise—­that a proselyte was required—­and that thou alone wouldst be accepted.”

“I!” exclaimed Alizon, horror-stricken.

“Ay, thou!” cried the hag.  “No choice was allowed her, and the offering must be made to-night.  After a long and painful struggle, thy mother consented.”

“Oh! no—­impossible! you deceive me,” cried the wretched girl.

“I tell thee she consented,” rejoined Mother Demdike, coldly; “and on this she made instant arrangements to return home, and in spite—­as thou know’st—­of Sir Ralph and Lady Assheton’s efforts to detain her, set forth with thee.”

“All this I know,” observed Alizon, sadly—­“and intelligence of our departure from the Abbey was conveyed to you, I conclude, by Jennet, to whom I bade adieu.”

“Thou art right—­it was,” returned the hag; “but I have yet more to tell thee, for I will lay the secrets of thy mother’s dark breast fully before thee.  Her time is wellnigh run.  Thou wert made the price of its extension.  If she fails in offering thee up to-night, and thou art here in my keeping, the Fiend, her master, will abandon her, and she will be delivered up to the justice of man.”

Alizon covered her face with horror.

After awhile she looked up, and exclaimed, with unutterable anguish—­

“And I cannot help her!”

The unpitying hag laughed derisively.