Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/296

 overwhelming: it was regarded as a clear and signal proof of her guilt. There was a momentary silence, and then the justice spoke again:

"Did I not say truly that God was discovering you? What will you say to this?"

"That it is fause," said Goody Campbell, starting up; "it is as fause as the leein' lips that say it."

"Do you deny the truth of it, then? Can you say that your grandchild never said it?"

"Na'!" said the unhappy prisoner, trembling with wrath and shame, "I'll na' deny it; but they were thoughtless, heedless words, if the lassie did utter them, and had naught to do wi' witchcraft."

"How did the maid happen to use them, then?"

"She did na' mean them; I wa' tellin' the lassie somewhat that happened at hame, years agone, afore iver she wa' born, when she said it."

"And what was the strange event which, happening so long ago, called out so much