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"That Dulcibel feels for me the affection of a sister, only intensifies my sister-in-law's aversion to her. But then, you see, that merely on the general principle of denouncing all who set themselves in opposition to the so-called afflicted circle, Dulcibel would be accused of witchcraft."
"Insane people, maniacs especially, do sometimes act as if they were possessed of the devil," he said frankly. "And no doubt their insanity is often the result of the sinful indulgence of their wicked propensities and passions." "Yes, that seems to be very reasonable," said Dulcibel.
"Here are the images," said a constable, producing two little rag-babies, that Dulcibel was making for a neighbor's children. The crowd looked breathlessly on as "these diabolical instruments of torture" were placed upon the table before the magistrates. "Dulcibel Burton, stand up and look upon your accusers," said Squire Hathorne.
The last new truth is always first perceived by the small minority of superior minds and souls. How indeed could it be otherwise, so long as truth like light always shines down from above? "Have you communicated this view to your brother and sister?" asked Dulcibel. "I have talked with them for a whole evening, but I do think Sister Ann is possessed too," replied Joseph Putnam.
"They have become reprobates and given over to an evil mind," said Master Raymond to her one day; clothing his thought as nearly as he could in scriptural language, in order to commend it to her. "Yes, this seems to be a reasonable explanation of their wicked conduct," replied Dulcibel.
I am afraid, that to save Dulcibel, he would not have scrupled at open and downright lying. Not that he had not all the sensitiveness of an honorable man as to his word; but because he looked upon the whole affair as a piece of malicious wickedness, in defiance of all just law, and which every true-hearted man was bound to oppose and defeat by all means allowable in open or secret warfare.
I know that all these charges of witchcraft against such good, nice people as Captain Alden, Master and Mistress English, your betrothed Dulcibel, and a hundred others, are mere bigotry and superstition at the best, and sheer spite and maliciousness at the worst but what can I do?
And one of the constables caught Dulcibel by the arm, and turned her around roughly. "This is horrible!" cried Thomas Putnam "and so young and fair-looking, too!" "Ah, they are the worst ones, Master Putnam," said his sympathetic friend, the Rev. Master Parris. "She looks young and pretty, but she may really be a hundred years old," said deacon Snuffles.
If that should fail, I am laying the foundation of another so that if Dulcibel should be brought to trial, the witnesses that are relied upon may fail to testify so wantonly against her. Even little Abigail Williams has the assurance and ingenuity to save her, if she will." "Yes, that precocious child is a very imp of Satan," said Joseph Putnam. "What a terrible woman she will make."
And it struck Master Raymond the same way; while Master English had no objection, especially as it was mainly for Dulcibel that the jailer would open the prison doors.
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