“Hold, Sir Thomas,” cried Sir Ralph Assheton, authoritatively.  “Settle your quarrels hereafter, if you have any to adjust; but I will have no fighting now.  Alizon is no witch.  You are well aware that she was about to be impiously and cruelly sacrificed by Mother Demdike, and her rescue was the main object of our coming hither.”

“Still suspicion attaches to her,” said Metcalfe; “whether she be the daughter of Elizabeth Device or Alice Nutter, she comes of a bad stock, and I protest against her being allowed to go free.  However, if you are resolved upon it, I have nothing more to say.  I shall find other time and place to adjust my differences with Master Richard Assheton.”

“When you please, sir,” replied the young man, sternly.

“And I will answer for the propriety of the course I have pursued,” said Sir Ralph; “but here comes Nicholas with Mother Demdike.”

“Demdike taken!  I am glad of it,” cried Mother Chattox, slightly raising herself as she spoke.  “Kill her, or she will ’scape you.”

When Nicholas came up with the old hag, both Sir Ralph Assheton and Roger Nowell put several questions to her, but she refused to answer their interrogations; and, horrified by her blasphemies and imprecations, they caused her to be removed to a short distance, while a consultation was held as to the course to be pursued.

“We have made half a dozen of these miscreants prisoners,” said Roger Nowell, “and the whole of them had better be taken to Whalley, where they can be safely confined in the old dungeons of the Abbey, and after their examination on the morrow can be removed to Lancaster Castle.”

“Be it so,” replied Sir Ralph; “but must yon unfortunate lady,” he added, pointing to Mistress Nutter, “be taken with them?”

“Assuredly,” replied Nowell.  “We can make no distinction among such offenders; or, if there are any degrees in guilt, hers is of the highest class.”

“You had better take leave of your daughter,” said Sir Ralph to Mistress Nutter.

“I thank you for the hint,” replied the lady.  “Farewell, dear Alizon,” she added, straining her to her bosom.  “We must part for some time.  Once more before I quit this world, in which I have played so wicked a part, I would fain look upon you—­fain bless you, if I have the power—­but this must be at the last, when my trials are wellnigh over, and when all is about to close upon me!”

“Oh! must it be thus?” exclaimed Alizon, in a voice half suffocated by emotion.

“It must,” replied her mother.  “Do not attempt to shake my resolution, my sweet child—­do not weep for me.  Amidst all the terrors that surround me, I am happier now than I have been for years.  I shall strive to work out my redemption by prayers.”

“And you will succeed!” cried Alizon.

“Not so!” shrieked Mother Demdike; “the Fiend will have his own.  She is bound to him by a compact which nought can annul.”