"I don't believe it! I don't believe it!" exclaimed Goody Grey fiercely. "If I did—I'd tear her very heart out, if she didn't tell me."
And she passed on, leaving Matthew horrified at her words. He watched her all the way down the road, which she traversed with a quick, hasty step, striking her staff defiantly into the ground as she went, until the turn of the road took her out of his sight.
"What a fearful body she is!" thought he, as he turned into the cottage.
But there his horror and astonishment was still further increased at finding crazed Jane lying in a heap on the floor.
At first he was for rushing to her aid; but on second thoughts, he reached his hat off the peg, and darted out of the cottage. There taking to his heels he ran as fast as his legs could carry him along the road Goody Grey had taken.
"For the love of Heaven!" said he overtaking her, "come back!"
"Come back!" exclaimed she, "and what for should I come back?"
"To take away the curse and witcheries yer've put upon Jane; or she'll die."
"What are you raving about? What have I to do with Jane and her curses?"