"How so, friend?" asked Potts, whose curiosity began to be aroused.
"Becose—" replied the sexton, and he stopped suddenly short.
"She was bewitched?" suggested Potts.
The sexton nodded his head, and began to ply his mattock vigorously.
"By Mother Demdike?" inquired Potts, taking out his memorandum book.
The sexton again nodded his head, but spake no word, and, meeting some obstruction in the ground, took up his pick to remove it.
"Another case!" muttered Potts, making an entry. "Mary Baldwyn, daughter of Richard Baldwyn of Rough Lee, aged—How old was she, sexton?"
"Throtteen," replied the man; "boh dunna ax me ony more questions, mester. Th' berrin takes place i' an hour, an ey hanna half digg'd th' grave."
"Your own name, Master Sexton, and I have done?" said Potts.
"Zachariah Worms," answered the man.