'Did any of mine ever wrong you?' she asked, after a time.
'No, no; never, till Prudence said — Oh, aunt, do you think I am
a witch?' And now Lois was standing up, holding by Grace's cloak,
and trying to read her face. Grace drew herself, ever so little,
away from the girl, whom she dreaded, and yet sought to
propitiate.
'Wiser than I, godlier than I, have said it. But oh, Lois, Lois!
he was my first-born. Loose him from the demon, for the sake of Him
whose name I dare not name in this terrible building, filled with
them who have renounced the hopes of their baptism; loose Manasseh
from his awful state, if ever I or mine did you a kindness!'
'You ask me for Christ's sake,' said Lois. 'I can name that holy
name — for oh, aunt! indeed, and in holy truth, I am no witch; and
yet I
