her from justice when he became aware, as he must by her confession, of the nature and magnitude of her offences.  This may be true; but when the wretches who have been leagued with her in iniquity are disposed of, the reason will no longer exist, and I will see that she is cared for.  But, apart from her mother, I have another source of anxiety respecting Alizon.  It is this:  orders have been this day given for the arrest of Elizabeth Device and her daughter, Jennet, and Alizon will be the chief witness against them.  This will be a great trouble to her.”

“Undoubtedly,” rejoined Dorothy, with much concern.  “But can it not be avoided?”

“I fear not,” said Richard, “and I blamed Nicholas much for his precipitancy in giving the order; but he replied he had been held up latterly as a favourer of witches, and must endeavour to redeem his character by a display of severity.  Were it not for Alizon, I should rejoice that the noxious brood should at last be utterly exterminated.”

“And so should I, in good sooth,” responded Dorothy.  “As to Elizabeth Device, she is bad enough for any thing, and capable of almost any mischief:  but she is nothing to Jennet, who, I am persuaded, would become a second Mother Demdike if her career were not cut short.  You have seen the child, and know what an ill-favoured, deformed little creature she is, with round high shoulders, eyes set strangely in her face, and such a malicious expression—­oh!  I shudder to think of it.”

And she covered her face with her hands, as if to shut out some unpleasant object.

“Poor, predestined child of sin, branded by nature from her birth, and charged with wicked passions, as the snake with venom, I cannot but pity her!” exclaimed Richard.  “Compassion is entirely thrown away,” he added, with a sudden change of manner, and as if trying to shake off a weakness.  “The poisonous fruit must, however, be nipped in the bud.  Better she should perish now, even though comparatively guiltless, than hereafter with a soul stained with crime, like her mother.”

As he concluded, he put his hand quickly to his side, for a sharp and sudden pang shot through his heart; and so acute was the pain, that, after struggling against it for a moment, he groaned deeply, and would have fallen, if his sister, greatly alarmed, and with difficulty repressing a scream, had not lent him support.

Neither of them were aware of the presence of a little girl, who had approached the place where they were sitting, with footsteps so light that the grass scarcely seemed to bend beneath them, and who, ensconcing herself behind the tree, drank in their discourse with eager ears.  She was attended by a large black cat, who, climbing the tree, placed himself on a bough above her.