“This king, being a mind to make himself merry,
  He sent for the Bishop of Canterbury. 
  ‘Good-morning, Mr. Bishop,’ the king did say. 
  ‘Have you come here for to live or to die?’
  To my down, down, down, derry down.

  “’For if you can’t answer to my questions three,
  Your head shall be taken from your body;
  And if you can’t answer unto them all right,
  Your head shall be taken from your body quite.’ 
  To my down, down, down, derry down.”

Nancy (wagging her head in time to the music).  I know some words that go better with that tune.

Phoebe. What are they?

Nancy. Oh, I’m forbid to tell.

Phoebe. Who forbade you to tell, Nancy?

Nancy. The one who forbade me to tell, forbade me to tell who told me.

Olive. Don’t gossip, or you won’t get your stints done before mother comes home.

Phoebe (sulkily).  I won’t finish my stint.  Aunt Corey set me too long a stint.  I won’t.  Oh, there she is now! [Knits busily.

Enter Ann Hutchins.

Olive (rising).  Well done, Ann.  I was but now wishing to see you.  Sit you down and lay off your cloak.  Why, how pale you look, Ann!  Are you sick?

Ann. You know best.

Olive. I?  Why, what mean you, Ann?

Ann. You know what I mean, in spite of your innocent looks.  Oh, open your eyes wide at me, if you want to!  Perhaps you don’t know what makes them bigger and bluer than they used to be.

Olive. Ann!

Ann. Oh, I mean nothing.  I am not sick.  Something frightened me as I came through the wood.

Olive. Frightened you!  Why, what was it?

Phoebe. Oh, what was it, Ann?

Ann. I know not; something black that hustled quickly by me and raised a cold wind.

Phoebe. Oh, oh!

Olive. ’Twas a cat or a dog, and your own fear raised the cold wind.  Think no more of it, Ann.  Wait a moment while I go to the north room.  I have something to show you. [Exit Olive with a candle.

Phoebe. What said the black thing to you, Ann?

Ann. I know not.

Nancy. Said it not:  “Serve me; serve me?”

Ann. I know not.  I was deaf with fear.

Phoebe. Oh, Ann, did it have horns?

Ann. I tell you I know not.  You pester me, child.

Phoebe. Did it have hoofs and a tail?

Ann. Be quiet, I tell you, or I’ll cuff your ears.

Nancy. She needn’t be so topping.  It will be laying in wait for her when she goes home.  I’ll warrant it won’t let her off so easy.

Enter Olive, bringing an embroidered muslin cape.  She puts it gently over Ann’s shoulders.