登陆注册
5251800000022

第22章 MASTER HUMPHREY'S VISITOR(4)

You may believe that the little town of Windsor did not escape the general contagion. The inhabitants boiled a witch on the king's birthday and sent a bottle of the broth to court, with a dutiful address expressive of their loyalty. The king, being rather frightened by the present, piously bestowed it upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, and returned an answer to the address, wherein he gave them golden rules for discovering witches, and laid great stress upon certain protecting charms, and especially horseshoes.

Immediately the towns-people went to work nailing up horseshoes over every door, and so many anxious parents apprenticed their children to farriers to keep them out of harm's way, that it became quite a genteel trade, and flourished exceedingly.

In the midst of all this bustle John Podgers ate and slept as usual, but shook his head a great deal oftener than was his custom, and was observed to look at the oxen less, and at the old women more. He had a little shelf put up in his sitting-room, whereon was displayed, in a row which grew longer every week, all the witchcraft literature of the time; he grew learned in charms and exorcisms, hinted at certain questionable females on broomsticks whom he had seen from his chamber window, riding in the air at night, and was in constant terror of being bewitched. At length, from perpetually dwelling upon this one idea, which, being alone in his head, had all its own way, the fear of witches became the single passion of his life. He, who up to that time had never known what it was to dream, began to have visions of witches whenever he fell asleep; waking, they were incessantly present to his imagination likewise; and, sleeping or waking, he had not a moment's peace. He began to set witch-traps in the highway, and was often seen lying in wait round the corner for hours together, to watch their effect. These engines were of simple construction, usually consisting of two straws disposed in the form of a cross, or a piece of a Bible cover with a pinch of salt upon it; but they were infallible, and if an old woman chanced to stumble over them (as not unfrequently happened, the chosen spot being a broken and stony place), John started from a doze, pounced out upon her, and hung round her neck till assistance arrived, when she was immediately carried away and drowned. By dint of constantly inveigling old ladies and disposing of them in this summary manner, he acquired the reputation of a great public character; and as he received no harm in these pursuits beyond a scratched face or so, he came, in the course of time, to be considered witch-proof.

There was but one person who entertained the least doubt of John Podgers's gifts, and that person was his own nephew, a wild, roving young fellow of twenty who had been brought up in his uncle's house and lived there still, - that is to say, when he was at home, which was not as often as it might have been. As he was an apt scholar, it was he who read aloud every fresh piece of strange and terrible intelligence that John Podgers bought; and this he always did of an evening in the little porch in front of the house, round which the neighbours would flock in crowds to hear the direful news, - for people like to be frightened, and when they can be frightened for nothing and at another man's expense, they like it all the better.

One fine midsummer evening, a group of persons were gathered in this place, listening intently to Will Marks (that was the nephew's name), as with his cap very much on one side, his arm coiled slyly round the waist of a pretty girl who sat beside him, and his face screwed into a comical expression intended to represent extreme gravity, he read - with Heaven knows how many embellishments of his own - a dismal account of a gentleman down in Northamptonshire under the influence of witchcraft and taken forcible possession of by the Devil, who was playing his very self with him. John Podgers, in a high sugar-loaf hat and short cloak, filled the opposite seat, and surveyed the auditory with a look of mingled pride and horror very edifying to see; while the hearers, with their heads thrust forward and their mouths open, listened and trembled, and hoped there was a great deal more to come. Sometimes Will stopped for an instant to look round upon his eager audience, and then, with a more comical expression of face than before and a settling of himself comfortably, which included a squeeze of the young lady before mentioned, he launched into some new wonder surpassing all the others.

The setting sun shed his last golden rays upon this little party, who, absorbed in their present occupation, took no heed of the approach of night, or the glory in which the day went down, when the sound of a horse, approaching at a good round trot, invading the silence of the hour, caused the reader to make a sudden stop, and the listeners to raise their heads in wonder. Nor was their wonder diminished when a horseman dashed up to the porch, and abruptly checking his steed, inquired where one John Podgers dwelt.

'Here!' cried a dozen voices, while a dozen hands pointed out sturdy John, still basking in the terrors of the pamphlet.

The rider, giving his bridle to one of those who surrounded him, dismounted, and approached John, hat in hand, but with great haste.

'Whence come ye?' said John.

'From Kingston, master.'

'And wherefore?'

'On most pressing business.'

'Of what nature?'

'Witchcraft.'

Witchcraft! Everybody looked aghast at the breathless messenger, and the breathless messenger looked equally aghast at everybody -

except Will Marks, who, finding himself unobserved, not only squeezed the young lady again, but kissed her twice. Surely he must have been bewitched himself, or he never could have done it -

and the young lady too, or she never would have let him.

'Witchcraft!' cried Will, drowning the sound of his last kiss, which was rather a loud one.

同类推荐
  • 南岳思大禅师立誓愿文

    南岳思大禅师立誓愿文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 十门辩惑论

    十门辩惑论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 古小说钩沉

    古小说钩沉

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 观世音菩萨授记经

    观世音菩萨授记经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 绪言

    绪言

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 黄泉眼之印(全集)

    黄泉眼之印(全集)

    因为工作的关系,邹凯男经常要出海。一次,公司领导孟洋重金邀请他出海一起从事一项生物技术的研发,自从踏上黄泉眼岛之后,接连发生的一连串怪事使邹凯男疑窦丛生。鬼发水母、异岛巨蟒、潜艇坟场、死亡日记……这些尘封已久的历史密件一一浮出水面,原来一路上遇到到的那些鬼魅、令人惊悚的海怪都是常见的动物基因嫁接的产物,用来作为二战时期的生化武器;原来孟洋出海并不是做药品开发,而是寻找当年生产生化武器遗留的隐性资料;原来王晨飞是当年一起上岛的科学家王际遇的儿子,原来赵边城和韩西城是亲兄弟,原来所有的一切都不是最初所理解的那样,原来每个人都有一个别人不知道的身份,原来邹凯男也有另一个身份,只是他自己还不知道……
  • 惹出来的爱

    惹出来的爱

    不想结婚可是又因为太无聊而采纳好友建意的天才少女于柠决定生个宝宝来玩,可是又怕太痛而放弃了找一夜情的想法,最后决定找个完美男人在他身上“偷点东西”反正这样也可以。哇。。。。这个男人好帅就他吧!可是要怎样才能让他乖乖就范了,不怕看我的。。。。全球最大跨国公司的幕后总裁黑泽一还不知道自已已经被人当成了猎物,最后还莫明其妙失身了。。。。黑泽一:等我找到是谁非宰了她于柠:哼。。前提你要找得到跑。。。。。。。。-----------------------------------这是诺儿的其它文(古代精灵之现代王子)连载(我的古董老公)完结(穿越之异瞳皇妃)这是诺儿的新文,可爱的亲们要去看看哦!带点玄幻的穿越文决对让你耳目一新哦!
  • 快穿:反派女配不好当

    快穿:反派女配不好当

    “主人,欢迎绑定快穿系统,我是您的机器人小白。”原本正睡得正香的一只小精灵脑中突然出现……
  • 金牌元素妃:逆天七小姐

    金牌元素妃:逆天七小姐

    新书【星光璀璨:金主一抱好欢喜】欢迎大家前来阅读!当天才的她,穿越为异世界懦弱的‘她’。强大魔兽???至强法宝???神器炼丹???不好意思,她仰天狂笑,手张狂一揽,这些都是她的。他,一个神秘的男人,势力强大,实力更强大,时而冷酷时而缠人,时而妖孽时而狡猾。世人看不清他的真面目,却知道,他名叫邪帝。世人皆知她是个男人,但他却一眼识破她的身份。对她软磨硬对,绝不放手。他曰:只要你想要,不择手段也要让你得到!且看他们强强联手,纵横大陆。上演一场震惊世界的升级历程!
  • 宠妃之路:帝王心尖宠

    宠妃之路:帝王心尖宠

    重生×穿越顾云薇因为一场意外来到了这架空时代。她和他的相遇始于一场意外,却好像花光了他毕生的运气。
  • 儒林外史

    儒林外史

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 血色残阳:西部的故事

    血色残阳:西部的故事

    彪悍男人与多情女人造出如许生动故事。独特乡情与现代意识结成耐品风味小说。西部,一个包含七情六欲的土地。男人、女人与山山水水都情感泛滥,处处充满奇闻轶事。血与泪、恩与仇、爱与恨、人性与野情,在冲突,在撞击。作者以获国内外大奖的《野山》《男人的风格》等等作品蜚声文坛。在此,又将以秦地那些劲朗的硬派故事及沉郁、苍凉的文风与深刻的哲理使你陷入沉思, 秦人贾平凹为此书作序。
  • 桃花倾君心:大侠等等我

    桃花倾君心:大侠等等我

    姚小桃在山间抓鱼的时候,一定不会想到,这江湖有一天会因为她而变了个样儿。她的能耐,确实是欠火候的。不过,加上她爱的人和爱她的人就得另说了。原来,这江湖不仅有美男可以看,可以快意恩仇,还挺罗曼蒂克的。
  • 爸爸妈妈讲给女孩听的励志故事

    爸爸妈妈讲给女孩听的励志故事

    女孩的幸福,也许就从一篇励志故事开始!与其用唠叨让孩子厌烦,不如抽出一点时间给她讲个故事,技能打到教育孩子的目的,又能增进亲自关系。励志故事是培训优秀女孩的最佳方案,通过励志故事,培养出一个尊贵优秀的女孩!
  • 进化之途

    进化之途

    在核战后的千年,人类被迫生活在封闭的天幕内,整个社会文明结构倒退,在号称七贤者的巨型生化电脑的控制下,被作为生物母本保存。而在破碎的大陆之外,是由曾经被制造出用于战争的类人统治。一只寄生体,一个人类的少年,一段成长的经历,这其中又隐藏了什么秘密?这就是进化的历程。