Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/56

 nobody knows. Why, is it not an awful thing? Grandmother, do you believe it?"

"Whist, Allie, I canna tell; the De'il is fu' of a' subtlety."

"But are there really any witches now, grannie?"

"I dinna ken, lassie. I mind me at hame, I used to hear tell o' fairies an' kelpies an' warlocks; an' wha' for nae witches? Gude be betune us an' harm! Dinna talk of sic' things, my bairn; it's nae good to be naming them. Gude be aroun' us this night an' foriver! Get ye out the Bible, my lassie, an' read us the prayers."

"Not yet, grandmother; it's early yet."

"Niver ye mind if it is, Allie. Yer tongue ha' rin on sae fast syne ye come in that my old head is fairly upset, and I'd fain gae to my bed; an' I'm sure ye maun be weel tired with yer lang walk yersel'. Sae bring the guid book, an' ca' in Winny."

And Allie brought out the big Bible, summoned old Winny, and reverently read the service for the day, the prayers, a hymn, and a chapter from the New Testament; and so closed the, to her, eventful day.