Mr. Mather: Here, sir, if ever, is demoniacal possession.
Judge Bride: Here is witchcraft—now to find the witch.
Mr. Mather: It has been proved an hundred times in English courts that a spell cast by a witch’s eye must return to the witch’s body—if the witch touch the afflicted.
Judge Bride: Sheriff, carry the body of this Labour Thumb to the prisoner. She shall touch her. We shall see. Observe. The child is utterly lifeless now.
Captain Buzzey: She has no pulse, sir.
Mrs. Thumb: Sir, sir, you have let her slay my child before my eyes. Oh, God, oh, God!...
Judge Bride: No one can say that this child knows who touches her. Sheriff, take her, alive or dead, to the prisoner.
Captain Buzzey took her up. The witch readily assented. She reached down and touched the child. The colour returned to the child’s face. Captain Buzzey felt her pulse leap in her wrist. He felt her heart stir under her hand. The child turned in his arms, smiling prettily, as though in sleep. With a smile she woke. She glanced to the Judges, noted her sister (still in semi-trance). She smiled at her mother. Her eyes went up, and there on the table beside and above her was the awful vision of Bilby’s Doll. With a wail of terror no art could simulate, she clung to Captain Buzzey. At that moment all in the courtroom realized how hideous had been her weeks of anguish. No one could so fear a person who had never done her harm.
Judge Bride: Lay the child upon her pallet—and you, Sorrow, go you now and lie upon your pallet.
Sorrow (her tongue still tied): Gar, gar, gah, gah, gah.