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Well； as I was saying； we boys doubted if it was a good time for Ursula
to be hiring a member of the Narr family。 We were right。 When the
people found it out they were naturally indignant。 And； moreover； since
Marget and Ursula hadn't enough to eat themselves； where was the money
coming from to feed another mouth？ That is what they wanted to know； and
in order to find out they stopped avoiding Gottfried and began to seek
his society and have sociable conversations with him。 He was pleased
not thinking any harm and not seeing the trapand so he talked
innocently along； and was no discreeter than a cow。
〃Money！〃 he said； 〃they've got plenty of it。 They pay me two groschen a
week； besides my keep。 And they live on the fat of the land； I can tell
you； the prince himself can't beat their table。〃
This astonishing statement was conveyed by the astrologer to Father Adolf
on a Sunday morning when he was returning from mass。 He was deeply
moved； and said：
〃This must be looked into。〃
He said there must be witchcraft at the bottom of it； and told the
villagers to resume relations with Marget and Ursula in a private and
unostentatious way； and keep both eyes open。 They were told to keep
their own counsel； and not rouse the suspicions of the household。 The
villagers were at first a bit reluctant to enter such a dreadful place；
but the priest said they would be under his protection while there； and
no harm could come to them； particularly if they carried a trifle of holy
water along and kept their beads and crosses handy。 This satisfied them
and made them willing to go； envy and malice made the baser sort even
eager to go。
And so poor Marget began to have company again； and was as pleased as a
cat。 She was like 'most anybody elsejust human； and happy in her
prosperities and not averse from showing them off a little； and she was
humanly grateful to have the warm shoulder turned to her and be smiled
upon by her friends and the village again； for of all the hard things to
bear； to be cut by your neighbors and left in contemptuous solitude is
maybe the hardest。
The bars were down； and we could all go there now； and we didour
parents and allday after day。 The cat began to strain herself。 She
provided the top of everything for those companies； and in abundance
among them many a dish and many a wine which they had not tasted before
and which they had not even heard of except at second…hand from the
prince's servants。 And the tableware was much above ordinary； too。
Marget was troubled at times； and pursued Ursula with questions to an
uncomfortable degree； but Ursula stood her ground and stuck to it that it
was Providence； and said no word about the cat。 Marget knew that nothing
was impossible to Providence； but she could not help having doubts that
this effort was from there； though she was afraid to say so； lest
disaster come of it。 Witchcraft occurred to her； but she put the thought
aside； for this was before Gottfried joined the household； and she knew
Ursula was pious and a bitter hater of witches。 By the time Gottfried
arrived Providence was established； unshakably intrenched； and getting
all the gratitude。 The cat made no murmur； but went on composedly
improving in style and prodigality by experience。
In any community； big or little； there is always a fair proportion of
people who are not malicious or unkind by nature； and who never do unkind
things except when they are overmastered by fear； or when their self…
interest is greatly in danger； or some such matter as that。 Eseldorf had
its proportion of such people； and ordinarily their good and gentle
influence was felt； but these were not ordinary timeson account of the
witch…dreadand so we did not seem to have any gentle and compassionate
hearts left； to speak of。 Every person was frightened at the
unaccountable state of things at Marget's house； not doubting that
witchcraft was at the bottom of it； and fright frenzied their reason。
Naturally there were some who pitied Marget and Ursula for the danger
that was gathering about them； but naturally they did not say so； it
would not have been safe。 So the others had it all their own way； and
there was none to advise the ignorant girl and the foolish woman and warn
them to modify their doings。 We boys wanted to warn them； but we backed
down when it came to the pinch； being afraid。 We found that we were not
manly enough nor brave enough to do a generous action when there was a
chance that it could get us into trouble。 Neither of us confessed this
poor spirit to the others； but did as other people would have done
dropped the subject and talked about something else。 And I knew we all
felt mean； eating and drinking Marget's fine things along with those
companies of spies； and petting her and complimenting her with the rest；
and seeing with self…reproach how foolishly happy she was； and never
saying a word to put her on her guard。 And； indeed； she was happy； and
as proud as a princess； and so grateful to have friends again。 And all
the time these people were watching with all their eyes and reporting all
they saw to Father Adolf。
But he couldn't make head or tail of the situation。 There must be an
enchanter somewhere on the premises； but who was it？ Marget was not seen
to do any jugglery； nor was Ursula； nor yet Gottfried； and still the
wines and dainties never ran short； and a guest could not call for a
thing and not get it。 To produce these effects was usual enough with
witches and enchantersthat part of it was not new； but to do it without
any incantations； or even any rumblings or earthquakes or lightnings or
apparitionsthat was new； novel； wholly irregular。 There was nothing in
the books like this。 Enchanted things were always unreal。 Gold turned
to dirt in an unenchanted atmosphere； food withered away and vanished。
But this test failed in the present case。 The spies brought samples：
Father Adolf prayed over them； exorcised them； but it did no good； they
remained sound and real； they yielded to natural decay only； and took the
usual time to do it。
Father Adolf was not merely puzzled； he was also exasperated； for these
evidences very nearly convinced himprivatelythat there was no
witchcraft in the matter。 It did not wholly convince him； for this could
be a new kind of witchcraft。 There was a way to find out as to this： if
this prodigal abundance of provender was not brought in from the outside；
but produced on the premises； there was witchcraft； sure。
Chapter 7
Marget announced a party； and invited forty people； the date for it was
seven days away。 This was a fine opportunity。 Marget's house stood by
itself； and it could be easily watched。 All the week it was watched
night and day。 Marget's household went out and in as usual； but they
carried nothing in their hands； and neither they nor others brought
anything to the house。 This was ascertained。 Evidently rations for
forty people were not being fetched。 If they were furnished any
sustenance it would have to be made on the premises。 It was true that
Marget went out with a basket every evening； but the spies ascertained
that