XVII. Woodilee and Calidon

           Theprickerdisappearedfromtheparishinthenight.Thedeadwomanwasburieddecentlyinthekirkyard,andhermalekinattendedthefuneralasiftherehadneverbeenawordagainstherfairfame.TherewasindeedacertainrevulsionoffeelingamongplainpeopleinWoodilee.Bessiehadbeenliked;shewasregrettedandpitied;thedownfalloftheprickerseemedtoinvalidateherconfession.Buttherewasaparty--Chasehopewastheleader--whoheldthatsolemnthingshadbeentrifledwithandthattheministerhadgonefartobringGod’scurseontheparish.Hehadlaidhishandtohisswordlikeamalignant,andhadmadelightofanawfulconfessionbeforetheprickerhadbeendiscredited.Bessiemighthavebeeninnocentofwitchcraft,butinhispleaforherhehadshownadiscreditableleniencytowardsthesin.Womenmightbeoldandfrail,butiftheywereleaguedwithSatanitwasenoughtoputthembeyondthepaleofChristiansympathy.Theministerwaspatentlyrebelliousandself-willed,ascorneroftheyokeofKirkandWord.

           Butthenight’seventscausedanotableincreaseinonereputation.ThenewtenantofCrossbaskethadshownhimselfanillmantocounter.Hehadtheinterestsoftheparishatheartandhadgivenwiseadvice,andhehadconfoundedtheprickerwithaterribleease.Clearlyamanwithpower;norwastherereasontothinkthatthepowerwasnotgivenhimfromonhigh.Ahardmantogainsay,asevenChasehopehadfound.Hisfriendlinesshadmadehimpopular,andfolkwereslippingintoneighbourlywayswithhim.