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Chapter 2
“Bloodbuiltit;bloodstoppedthebuildingofit;bloodshallbringitdown.Seehere!”shecriedagain—“Ispitupontheground,andcrackmythumbatit!Blackbeitsfall!Ifyeseethelaird,tellhimwhatyehear;tellhimthismakesthetwelvehunnerandnineteentimethatJennetCloustonhascalleddownthecurseonhimandhishouse,byreandstable,man,guest,andmaster,wife,miss,orbairn—black,blackbetheirfall!”
Andthewoman,whosevoicehadrisentoakindofeldritchsing-song,turnedwithaskip,andwasgone.Istoodwheresheleftme,withmyhaironend.Inthosedaysfolkstillbelievedinwitchesandtrembledatacurse;andthisone,fallingsopat,likeawaysideomen,toarrestmeereIcarriedoutmypurpose,tookthepithoutofmylegs.
IsatmedownandstaredatthehouseofShaws.ThemoreIlooked,thepleasanterthatcountry-sideappeared;beingallsetwithhawthornbushesfullofflowers;thefieldsdottedwithsheep;afineflightofrooksinthesky;andeverysignofakindsoilandclimate;andyetthebarrackinthemidstofitwentsoreagainstmyfancy.
CountryfolkwentbyfromthefieldsasIsatthereonthesideoftheditch,butIlackedthespirittogivethemagood-e’en.Atlastthesunwentdown,andthen,rightupagainsttheyellowsky,Isawascrollofsmokegomounting,notmuchthicker,asitseemedtome,thanthesmokeofacandle;butstillthereitwas,andmeantafire,andwarmth,andcookery,andsomelivinginhabitantthatmusthavelitit;andthiscomfortedmyheart.
