Sure he was seen
kissin' a ghost the other night near Crukanesker well, where the
Davorens get their wather from. O, thin, bedad, but Grace Davoren is a
beauty all out; and maybe 'tis herself doesn't know it."
"Go on with your story," said Woodward, rather dryly; "proceed."
"Well, sir, there is Bet Harramount's face for you, and the rest of her
figure wasn't sich as to disgrace it. She was half bent wid age, wore
an ould black bonnet, an ould red cloak, and walked wid a staff that was
bent at the top, as it seems every witch must do. Where she came from
nobody could ever tell, for she was a black stranger in this part of the
country. At all events, she lived in the town below, but how she lived
nobody could tell either. Everything about her was a riddle; no wondher,
considherin' she hardly was ever known to spake to any one, from the
lark to the lamb. At length she began to be subjected by many sensible
people to be something not right; which you know, sir, was only natural.
Peter O'Figgins, that was cracked--but then it was only wid dhrink and
larnin'--said it; and Katty McTrollop, Lord Bilberry's henwife, was of
the same opinion, and from them and others the thing grew and spread
until it became right well known that she was nothin' else than a witch,
and that the big wart on her neck was nothin' more nor less than the
mark the devil had set upon her, to suckle his babies by.
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