No; stand aside, old man. MARY (_starting up_) Look there! Look there! I see a little bird, a yellow bird, Perched on her finger; and it pecks at me. Ah, it will tear mine eyes out! MARTHA I see nothing. HATHORNE 'Tis the Familiar Spirit that attends her. MARY Now it has flown away. It sits up there Upon the rafters. It is gone; is vanished. MARTHA Giles, wipe these tears of anger from mine eyes. Wipe the sweat from my forehead. I am faint. _She leans against the railing._ MARY Oh, she is crushing me with all her weight! HATHORNE Did you not carry once the Devil's Book To this young woman? MARTHA Never. HATHORNE Have you signed it, Or touched it? MARTHA No; I never saw it. HATHORNE Did you not scourge her with an iron rod? MARTHA No, I did not. If any Evil Spirit Has taken my shape to do these evil deeds, I cannot help it. I am innocent. HATHORNE Did you not say the Magistrates were blind? That you would open their eyes? MARTHA (_with a scornful laugh_) Yes, I said that; If you call me a sorceress, you are blind! If you accuse the innocent, you are blind! Can the innocent be guilty? HATHORNE Did you not On one occasion hide your husband's saddle To hinder him from coming to the Sessions? MARTHA I thought it was a folly in a farmer To waste his time pursuing such illusions. HATHORNE What was the bird that this young woman saw Just now upon your hand? MARTHA I know no bird. HATHORNE Have you not dealt with a Familiar Spirit? MARTHA No, never, never! HATHORNE What then was the Book You showed to this young woman, and besought her To write in it? MARTHA Where should I have a book? I showed her none, nor have none. MARY The next Sabbath Is the Communion Day, but Martha Corey Will not be there! MARTHA Ah, you are all against me. What can I do or say? HATHORNE You can confess. MARTHA No, I cannot, for I am innocent. HATHORNE We have the proof of many witnesses That you are guilty. MARTHA Give me leave to speak. Will you condemn me on such evidence,-- You who have known me for so many years? Will you condemn me in this house of God, Where I so long have worshipped with you all? Where I have eaten the bread and drunk the wine So many times at our Lord's Table with you? Bear witness, you that hear me; you all know That I have led a blameless life among you, That never any whisper of suspicion Was breathed against me till this accusation. And shall this count for nothing? Will you take My life away from me, because this girl, Who is distraught, and not in her right mind, Accuses me of things I blush to name? HATHORNE