Grace's sleep was haunted that night by witches and goblins. She felt the fever which had been predicted "coming to pass" in her burning veins, and was greatly relieved next morning when she awoke as well as usual.
But the terrors of witchcraft still haunted her. In a few days another mysterious event took place. Grace lost her regard-ring. When she came from school one evening she was sure she had it on her finger. It must be lost in the house. All possible and impossible places were searched. So strange that Cassy's ring should disappear! Had it melted away like Cassy's friendship? At last Grace settled down to the conviction that Phebe, the little nurse, had stolen it. "What else could have gone with it, unless that wild woman had magicked it away?"
Flying into the nursery, she met Phebe walking the floor with little
Katie, who was wailing with the ache of some invisible little teeth.
"Black people have light fingers, everybody knows," thought Grace, by way of fortifying herself.
"Phebe Dolan, my beautiful regard-ring is gone—gone; and who do you suppose took it, Phebe Dolan? You did!"
Phebe's eyes rolled like wheels. In her surprise, she almost dropped the baby.
"Why, now, I done declar, Miss Grace, I never took it—never seen it; much as ever I knowed you had a ring."
"O, Phebe Dolan, you're trembling this minute. What could you want of my ring, you little wretch?"
"I declar for't, Miss Grace, I hope to die fust!"
"No, you mustn't hope to die, Phebe: you're too wicked to die!"