"Ah, it is impossible to say," replied the woman, looking furtively at her visitor; "and you may not have given him the potion at a lucky time. I know it was right, my dear," she added, in a low, mysterious whisper. "I gathered the herbs myself, and distilled them every one. You don't know: you can't tell. He may love you very dearly, and only be holding back from fear of your high place. Was not your father made a titled man just then?" "Yes," replied the visitor. "Then that was it," cried the woman, triumphantly. "Depend upon it, mistress, you have him safe." "But he is always with her--always, Mother Goodhugh; and when we meet he has only a contemptuous kind of laugh for me." "That means nothing, dearie. It may be only the man's spirit fighting against his heart. I can't think, lovey, but what you have him safe. How many times has he had the drink?" "Nine." "And nine drops each time?" "Yes, as nearly as I could drop them. My hand shook so." "Ah," cried the woman, eagerly, "what did I tell thee? Nine drops nine times dropped make eighty-one, and eight and one are nine." "Yes," said Anne Beckley. "Did I not warn thee that any mistake would spoil the spell?" "Yes, but that could not matter." "Ah, that is not for me to say," replied the woman. "But there, sit ye down, dearie, and I'll do what I can for you. If it wasn't that you love him I'd say to you let him go on in his terrifying ways, and wed her if he will. She belongs to an accursed race, and would bring him never good." "But she shan't marry him!" cried Anne, with flashing eyes. "I hate her, Mother Goodhugh, and would sooner see her dead. She's a witch. I'm sure she's a witch." "And why are you sure, lovey?" "Because--because--she bewitches men to her, and holds them by her side. I have tried, oh, so hard, but I cannot." "Nay, child, nay, but you can, though not so strongly; for you do it by good, while she does it by ill." "But I can't, Mother Goodhugh," cried the girl, petulantly. "Ah, but you do," said the woman, who began to walk up and down the brick floor, muttering and talking as if to herself. "She must, she must, for she is very beautiful and good. She has but to wish it over the nine drops to win the hearts of as many lovers as her heart desires." "But, Mother Goodhugh," whispered Anne, whose heart was open enough to a little insidious flattery, "I did try so hard, and it seemed to do no good; and now a great officer has come to the Moat, and he had to go down to the Pool-house." "Yes, yes, I know, I know," said Mother Goodhugh, "and she has witched him, too. Yes; she sits with him and reads to him, and smiles softly in his face, and she'll win him to her ways, no doubt. But you don't care for that, child. Let her win him, and it will settle the love, and leave brave, stout Captain Gil for you."