mother burst all at once. Like Michael she often kept her deepest feelings under lock and key, revealing to the world only a lesser parody of herself. But now something had happened--- 

 “Go and find her!” she cried, at long last giving in. “And if she has gone to that witch’s hole of hers, then. . .tell her she may just as well stay there, and the Devil take her! I’ve had enough of it, do you hear? Let them burn her at the stake; I’ll not have her bring shame upon this house. It’s all the same to me!” And she ran to the armchair by the fireplace, hiding her face in her hands. 

 The daughter followed, more confused and forlorn than ever. She loved her aunt, though she also feared her, and could not understand the vindictive nature of the words spoken against her. 

 “Mother, what are you saying? What are you thinking of?” 

 The hands came down to reveal a tired, careworn face no longer able to think of pity. “So, you never knew she was a witch? How blind a woman can be, when she wants to. Why, you don’t even know, still haven't guessed---” She faltered, then cried out. “Dear God, I cannot bear this cross any longer! You have taken my husband, my beloved son, and left me with his temptress.” Then turning to Mary. “Go to her! Get out, I tell you! She will tell you everything, everything now. Make your home with her if you like. Leave me to my wretched memories.” And physical sorrow bent her nearly double in the chair. 

 The girl took a step to console her, but the hateful, flashing eyes turned on her erased any such notion. She hesitated, then ran to the door in dismay, and out into the bracing, October wild. It seemed the last vestiges of solace and sanctuary were crumbling around her, leaving a world too terrible, too full of dark meaning to endure. She ran. 

 But her steps were not blind. Instinctively she stayed on the western side of the rise, which hid her from sight of the road. And though she had rarely seen it, the back of her mind knew where her aunt’s strange and secret abode lay: beyond the ravine, in land too wild and rocky to grow or graze. 

 It was growing dark when she finally reached the high pass in which it lay, and in place of the wind a cold stillness reigned. The rocky culvert did not benefit from the failing light. It was a harsh and cheerless place, all thorn and sloe, with here and there a gnarled, leafless tree. 

 The faraway cry of a 

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