Giles. Work the bellows in the face of the north wind.  Oh, lass, why came you here?  ’Tis worse than the stones.  Talk no more to me, good lass; womenkind should meddle not with men’s plans.  But promise me you will wed with Paul here within three weeks.

Olive. I will never wed.

Giles. Ye will not, hey?  Ye will wed with Master Paul Bayley within three weeks.  ’Tis the last command your father gives thee.

Olive. Think you I can wed when you—­

Giles. Ay, I do think so, lass, and so ye will.

Olive. Father, I will not.  But if you plead I will, I promise you I will.

Giles. I will not, and you will.  Lass, since you be here, I pray you set a stitch in this seam in my coat.  I would look tidy at the trial, for thy mother’s sake.  Hast thou thy huswife with thee?

Olive. Yes, father.

[Olive threads a needle, and standing beside her father, sets the stitch; weeps as she does so.

Giles. Know you every tear adds weight to the stones, lass?

Olive. Then will I weep not. [Mends.

Giles. Be the child and the old woman well?

Olive. Yes, father.

Giles. Look out for them as you best can.  And see to ’t the little maid’s linen chest is well filled, as your mother would have.

[Olive breaks off the thread.

Giles. Be the stitch set strong?

Olive. Yes, father.

Giles (turning and folding her to his arms).  Oh, my good lass, the stones be naught, but this cometh hard, this cometh hard!  Could they not have spared me this?

Olive. Father, listen to me, listen to me—­

Giles. Lass, I must listen to naught but the voice of God.  ’Tis that speaks, and bids me do this thing.  Thou must come not betwixt thy father and his God.

Olive. Father! father!

Giles. Go, Olive, I can bear no more.  Tell me thou wilt wed as I command you.

Olive. As thou wilt, father! father! but I will love no man as I love thee.

Giles. Go, lass.  Give me a kiss.  There, now go!  I command thee to go!  Paul, take her hence.  I charge ye do by her when her father be dead and gone, as ye would were he at thy elbow.  Take her hence.  I would go to prayer.

[Exeunt Paul and Olive.

Olive (as the door closes).  Father! father!

Giles Corey stands alone in cell.  Curtain falls.

Act VI.

Three weeks later.  Lane near Salem overhung by blossoming apple-trees.  Enter Hathorne, Corwin, and Parris.

Corwin. ’Tis better here, a little removed from the field where they are putting Giles Corey to death.  I could bear the sight of it no longer.