"No. Yes, Tituba, don't go down yet. Where is Abby?"
"In bed and sound asleep."
"How can she sleep away from me? Oh, Tituba! Tituba! I am so lonesome."
Tituba went close to her young mistress, and kneeling down received that drooping head on her shoulder.
"Come close, Tituba. Oh, how I want my mother now!"
This cry of nature touched old Tituba's heart, but she had no words.
Elizabeth lifted her face and searched those withered features with her beautiful eyes.
"Tituba, just as sure as I live, Barbara Stafford sat out yonder on a white horse only a little while ago. The horse vanished. Then I saw her on foot near the door," she said wildly. "What does it mean? What can it mean?"
The old woman made vague efforts to caress the girl, but said nothing. At last Elizabeth sprang to her feet.
"Are you speaking truth, Tituba?" she exclaimed, "or am I bewitched?"