taking from her pocket a piece of polished silver, and at the same time
receiving the knife, she plunged them both into the hissing liquid. As
the lady of Stramen, eagerly watching the experiment, stood bending over
the water with her back to the door, she was not aware of her father's
presence. He had entered unperceived, and was contemplating in some
surprise the mysterious operation going on before him. He could scarce
repress a laugh, for there was something ludicrous in Linda's very wise
and consequential manner, as she knelt over the kettle, while his
daughter, equally absorbed, her hat yet untied, continued in an attitude
of profound attention beside her.

When the water had cooled, the old woman with a trembling hand drew out
the silver--it was bright as ever!

"It is venomless as the bill of the turtle-dove," she exclaimed, with
the importance of an oracle, looking up at her mistress.

"May I ask the meaning of all this, without being referred to the prince
of magic for an answer?" said the Baron of Stramen, stepping forward;
and he added, addressing Linda, who in her surprise had nearly
overturned the vessel: "Do you wish to be hung for a witch?"

The old woman slunk terrified into a corner, but Margaret hastily
replied:

"You are already informed, sir, of the violation of the truce of God,
which occurred this morning. Our magic consisted only in the discovery
that there was no poison upon the knife which inflicted the wound."

"I cannot but think," rejoined her father, "that you have displayed an