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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
Theonesunbeamstruggledmistilythrough,andcouldbutimperfectlydefinetheimageofthecrackedanddustywindowpaneontheoppositewall.MotherRigby,meanwhile,withonebrownarmakimboandtheotherstretchedtowardsthefigure,loomedgrimlyamidtheobscuritywithsuchportandexpressionaswhenshewaswonttoheaveaponderousnightmareonhervictimsandstandatthebedsidetoenjoytheiragony.Infearandtremblingdidthispoorscarecrowpuff.Butitsefforts,itmustbeacknowledged,servedanexcellentpurpose;for,witheachsuccessivewhiff,thefigurelostmoreandmoreofitsdizzyandperplexingtenuityandseemedtotakedensersubstance.Itsverygarments,moreover,partookofthemagicalchange,andshonewiththeglossofnoveltyandglistenedwiththeskilfullyembroideredgoldthathadlongagobeenrentaway.And,halfrevealedamongthesmoke,ayellowvisagebentitslustrelesseyesonMotherRigby.
Atlasttheoldwitchclinchedherfistandshookitatthefigure.Notthatshewaspositivelyangry,butmerelyactingontheprinciple—perhapsuntrue,ornottheonlytruth,thoughashighaoneasMotherRigbycouldbeexpectedtoattain—thatfeebleandtorpidnatures,beingincapableofbetterinspiration,mustbestirredupbyfear.Butherewasthecrisis.Shouldshefailinwhatshenowsoughttoeffect,itwasherruthlesspurposetoscatterthemiserablesimulacreintoitsoriginalelements.
"Thouhastaman’saspect,"saidshe,sternly.
