Sandford.  Margaret (as just arrived from a journey).

Margaret. Can I see him to-night?

Sandford. I think ye had better stay till the morning: 
            he will be more calm.

Margaret. You say he gets no sleep?

Sandford. He hath not slept since Sir Walter died.  I have sat up with him these two nights.  Francis takes my place to-night—­O!  Mistress Margaret, are not the witch’s words come true—­“All that we feared and worse”?  Go in and change your garments, you have travelled hard and want rest.

Margaret. I will go to bed.  You will promise I shall see him in the morning.

Sandford. You will sleep in your old chamber?

Margaret. The Tapestry room:  yes.  Pray get me a light.  A good night to us all.

Sandford. Amen, say I. [They go in.]

Scene.  The Servants’ Hall.

Daniel, Peter and Robert.

Daniel. Are we all of one mind, fellows?  He that lov’d his old master, speak.  Shall we quit his son’s service for a better?  Is it aye, or no?

Peter. For my part, I am afraid to go to bed to-night.

Robert. For certain, young Master’s indiscretion was that which broke his heart.

Peter. Who sits up with him to-night?

Robert. Francis.

Peter. Lord! what a conscience he must have, that he cannot sleep alone.

Robert. They say he is troubled with the Night-mare.

Daniel. Here he comes, let us go away as fast as we can.

Enter John Woodvil and Francis. [They run out.]

John. I lay me down to get a little sleep,
        And just when I began to close my eyes,
        My eyes heavy to sleep, it comes.

Francis. What comes?

John. I can remember when a child the maids[38]
        Would place me on their lap, as they undrest me,
        As silly women use, and tell me stories
        Of Witches—­Make me read “Glanvil on Witchcraft,”
        And in conclusion show me in the Bible,
        The old Family-Bible with the pictures in it,
        The ’graving of the Witch raising up Samuel,
        Which so possest my fancy, being a child,
        That nightly in my dreams an old Hag came
        And sat upon my pillow. 
        I am relapsing into infancy,—­
        And shortly I shall dote—­for would you think it? 
        The Hag has come again.  Spite of my manhood,
        The Witch is strong upon me every night.
           [Walks to and fro, then as if recollecting something.]
        What said’st thou, Francis, as I stood in the passage? 
        Something of a Father: 
        The word is ringing in my ears now—­

[Footnote 38:  Twice afterwards Lamb returned to this episode—­in “The Witch Aunt” in story Mrs. Leicester’s School (see Vol.  III.), and in “Witches and other Night Fears,” in Elia (see Vol.  II. 9).]