Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/164

 man whispering in your ear, and birds about you; what do you say to it?"

"That it is all false; I am clear."

"Possibly you may apprehend you are no witch; but have you not been led aside by temptations in that way?"

"No, I have not."

"Have you not had visible appearances, more than what is common in nature?"

"I have none; nor ever had in my life."

"Do you think these suffer voluntarily or involuntarily?"

"I can not tell."

"That is strange; every one can judge."

"I must be silent."

"They accuse you of hurting them, and you think it is not unwillingly, but by design; you must then look upon them as murderers."

"I can not tell what to think of it."

This last answer was considered as equivalent to calling them murderers; but this she denied, saying that being a little hard of hearing she did not quite understand the question, and had meant only to say that she could not tell what to make of their conduct.