Olive. They say my mother will soon be hanged, and I perchance a witch, and the cause of it.  I cannot get over it. (Moves away from them.) If I be a witch, I shall hurt thee, as I perchance have hurt them. [Weeps.

Paul. Olive Corey, what is that?

Olive (looking up).  What?  What mean you, Paul? [Nancy and Phoebe stare.

Paul. There, over the cupboard.  Is it—­Yes, ’tis—­cobwebs.  I trow I never saw such a sight in Goodwife Corey’s house before.

Olive. I will brush them down, Paul.

Paul (looking at the floor).  And I doubt me much if the floor has been swept up this week past, and the hearth is all strewn with ashes.  I trow Goodwife Corey would weep could she see her house thus.

Olive. I will get the broom, Paul.

Paul. I know well thou hast not spun this last week, that the cream is too far gone to be churned, and the cheeses have not been turned.

Nancy. ’Tis so, Paul; and there’s no sweet-cake in the house, either.

Paul. Thou art no such housewife as thy mother, Olive Corey!  One would say she had not taught thee.  I trow she was a good housewife, and notable among the neighbors; but this will take from her reputation that she hath so brought thee up.  I trow could she see this house ’twould give her a new ache in her heart among all the others.

Olive. I will mind the house, Paul.

Paul. Ay, mind the house, poor lass!  Know you, Olive, that there is a rumor abroad in Salem that your father will refuse to plead, and will stand mute at his trial?

Olive. Wherefore will he do that?

Paul. I scarcely know why.  Has he made a will, ’twill not be valid were he to plead at a criminal trial; there will be an attainder on it.  They say that is one reason, and that he thinks thus to show his scorn of the whole devilish work, and of a trial that is no trial.

Olive. What is the penalty if he stand mute?

Paul. ’Tis a severe one; but he shall not stand mute.

Phoebe. Oh, Paul, get Aunt Corey out of jail!  Can’t you get Aunt Corey out of jail?

Nancy. Perchance you could pry up the hook of the jail door with the old knife.  It will be dark to-night.  There is no moon until three o’clock in the morning.

Olive. Paul, think you not that my father’s sons-in-law might do somewhat?  They are men of influence.  Their wives are but my half-sisters, but they are his own daughters.  I marvel they have not come to me since this trouble.

Paul. Olive, his sons-in-law have sent in their written testimony against him and your mother.

Olive. Paul, it cannot be so!

Paul. They have surely so testified.  There is no help to be had from them.  I have a plan.