"It might be without your knowledge," said the boy. "They say it
healed as no chirurgeon could have healed it, and by magic arts."
"Ha! the lubbard oafs. You know better than to believe them, Dick."
"Nay, sir, but 'tis her bower-woman and Madge, the cook's wife. Both
aver that the lady hath bewitched whoever comes in her way ever since
she crossed the door. She hath wrought strange things with her
father, mother, and brothers. They say she bound them to her; that
the little one could not brook to have her out of sight; yet she
worked on him so that he was crooked and shrivelled. Yet he wept and
cried to have her ever with him, while he peaked and pined and
dwindled away. And her mother, who was once a fine, stately,
masterful dame, pined to mere skin and bone, and lay in lethargy; and
now she is winding her charms on you, sir!"
Pierce made an exclamation of loathing and contempt. Dick lowered
his voice to a whisper of awe.
"Nay, sir, but Le Tordu and Ned of the Bludgeon purpose to ride over
to Shields to the wise, and they will deal with her when he has found
the witch's mark."
"The lady!" cried Hardcastle in horror. "You see her what she is! A
holy woman if ever there was one! At mass each morning."
"Ay, but the wench Thora told Ralph that 'tis prayers backward she
says there. Thora has oft heard her at night, and 'twas no Ave nor
Credo as they say them here.
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