"It is false!" shrieked the hag, in accents of mixed terror and rage. "I have months to run, and will renew it."
"Before midnight, you might have done so; but it is now too late—your reign is over," rejoined Fancy. "Farewell, sweet mistress. We shall meet once again, though scarcely under such pleasant circumstances as heretofore."
"It cannot be, my darling Fancy; thou art jesting with me," whimpered the hag; "thou wouldst not delude thy doating mistress thus."
"I have done with thee, foul hag," rejoined the familiar, "and am right glad my service is ended. I could have saved thee, but would not, and delayed my return for that very purpose. Thy soul was forfeited when I came back to thy hut."
"Then curses on thee for thy treachery," cried the hag, "and on thy master, who deceived me in the bond he placed before me."
The familiar laughed hoarsely.
"But what of Mother Demdike?" pursued the hag. "Hast thou no comfort for me? Tell me her hour is likewise come, and I will forgive thee. But do not let her triumph over me."
The familiar made no answer, but, laughing derisively, stamped upon the ground, and it opened to receive him.
"Alizon!" cried Mistress Nutter, who in the mean time had vainly endeavoured to rouse her daughter to full consciousness, "fly with me, my child. The enemy is at hand."
"What enemy?" asked Alizon, faintly. "I have so many, that I know not whom you mean."