Mat started whittling a whistle from a willow stick, and Mr. Hamlin began adding a column of figures in a cash-book, but after a few minutes he looked up at his wife, who had come into the room and was knitting. "I can't blame the children for talking of witches and magic things," he said, "when all the province of Massachusetts Bay seems to be thinking about the same matters. Everybody's whispering about them, and every man, woman, and child seems suddenly to know exactly what witches do. Three men told me to-day about those poor women they've jailed over at Salem Village. And the men seemed almost to believe that the women really had dealt in witchcraft, although they were all three sober men, and one was a minister of the Gospel." "And I've been hearing the same things," said his wife. "Men don't do all the gossiping, my dear." Mr. Hamlin turned again to his cash-book, but his counting was interrupted in a few minutes by a loud rapping at the street-door. Mat opened the door, and Mr. Samuel Glover and his son Joe came hurrying in. "There's strange news afoot," said Mr. Glover, "and I thought it only neighborly to share it with you." He threw his hat and cloak on a chair. "Some one has charged Mistress Ann Swan with dealing in witchcraft, with being a familiar of the Evil One." "Mistress Swan!" exclaimed husband and wife, while Mat stood listening with his mouth wide open. "It's said she's bewitched the children, makes them act like cats and dogs, sends them into trances, and misuses them in many different ways." "She's a most kind-hearted woman, and loves children dearly," said Mistress Hamlin. "She always gives them sweets when they come to see her." "Aye," agreed Mr. Glover, "so the children say, but they add that she gives them the sweets so she may have a chance to work her evil on them." "What children say this?" demanded Mr. Hamlin. "Mercy Booth and Susan Parsons and John Rowley," answered Mr. Glover. "They're the main ones." Mat looked at Joe. "Serves 'em right," said he. "They're mean enough to be bewitched!" "They stone dogs and cats," put in Joe. "And the schoolmaster caught 'em at it, and gave 'em a good scolding." "But who started the story?" asked Mr. Hamlin. "Did the children tell these things themselves?" "A man who's lately come from Boston took the matter to the town clerk," answered Mr. Glover. "It seems the children had told their strange stories to him. His name is Jonathan Leek." Mat gave a long whistle. "Jonathan Leek!" he echoed. "Why, he's the man Joe and I met at the smithy!" "Yes," said Joe, nodding vigorously. "And he knows all about witchcraft." "I should think he did," agreed Mat. "Poor Ann Swan," said Mistress Hamlin. "As fine a woman as ever lived. And to be charged with being a witch!" "That's what I say," assented Mr. Glover. "And I'm doubtful if the matter stops there. There's talk already that another had some part in mistreating the children." "Who?" demanded Mr. Hamlin.