“Did not you say you would tell the truth? who told you what
     they came for?—­Nobody.

     “How did you know?—­I did think so.

     “But you said you knew so.

     “(CHILDREN:  There is a man whispering in her ear.)

     “HATHORNE continued:  What did he say to you?—­We
     must not believe all that these distracted children say.

     “Cannot you tell what that man whispered?—­I saw nobody.

     “But did not you hear?—­No.

     “(Here was extreme agony of all the afflicted.)

     “If you expect mercy of God, you must look for it in God’s
     way, by confession.  Do you think to find mercy by
     aggravating your sins?—­A true thing.

     “Look for it, then, in God’s way.—­So I do.

     “Give glory to God and confess, then.—­But I cannot confess.

     “Do not you see how these afflicted do charge you?—­We must
     not believe distracted persons.

     “Who do you improve to hurt them?—­I improved none.

     “Did not you say our eyes were blinded, you would open
     them?—­Yes, to accuse the innocent.

     “(Then Crosby gave in evidence.)

     “Why cannot the girl stand before you?—­I do not know.

     “What did you mean by that?—­I saw them fall down.

     “It seems to be an insulting speech, as if they could not
     stand before you.—­They cannot stand before others.

     “But you said they cannot stand before you.  Tell me what
     was that turning upon the spit by you?—­You believe the
     children that are distracted.  I saw no spit.

     “Here are more than two that accuse you for witchcraft.  What
     do you say?—­I am innocent.

     “(Then Mr. Hathorne read further of Crosby’s evidence.)

     “What did you mean by that,—­the Devil could not stand
     before you?

     “(She denied it.  Three or four sober witnesses confirmed
     it.)

     “What can I do?  Many rise up against me.

     “Why, confess.—­So I would, if I were guilty.

     “Here are sober persons.  What do you say to them?  You are a
     gospel woman; will you lie?

     “(Abigail cried out, ’Next sabbath is sacrament-day; but she
     shall not come there.’)

     “I do not care.

“You charge these children with distraction:  it is a note of distraction when persons vary in a minute; but these fix upon you.  This is not the manner of distraction.—­When all are against me, what can I help it?

     “Now tell me the truth, will you?  Why did you say that the
     magistrates’ and ministers’ eyes were blinded, you would
     open them?

     “(She laughed, and denied it.)

     “Now tell us how we shall know who doth hurt these, if you
     do not?—­Can an innocent person be guilty?