Hearken，youngman，”shesaid；”yourfatherswereimplacable，buttheywerehonourable，foes；theysoughtnottoruintheirenemiesunderthemastofhospitality。”WhathaveyoutodowithLucyAshton？whyshouldyourstepsmoveinthesamefootpathwithhers？whyshouldyourvoicesoundinthesamechordandtimewiththoseofSirWilliamAshton’sdaughter？Youngman，hewhoaimsatrevengebydishonourablemeans——””Besilent，woman！”saidRavenswood，sternly；”itisthedevilthatpromptsyourvoice？Knowthatthisyoungladyhasnotonearthafriendwhowouldventurefarthertosaveherfrominjuryorfrominsult。””Andisitevenso？”saidtheoldwoman，inanalteredbutmelancholytone，”thenGodhelpyouboth！””Amen！Alice，”saidLucy，whohadnotcomprehendedtheimportofwhattheblindwomanhadhinted，”andsendyouyoursenses，Alice，andyourgoodhumour。Ifyouholdthismysteriouslanguage，insteadofwelcomingyourfriends，theywillthinkofyouasotherpeopledo。””Andhowdootherpeoplethink？”saidRavenswood，forhealsobegantobelievetheoldwomanspokewithincoherence。”Theythink，”saidHenryAshton，whocameupatthatmoment，andwhisperedintoRavenswood’sear，”thatsheisawitch，thatshouldhavebeenburnedwiththemthatsufferedatHaddington。””Whatisityousay？”saidAlice，turningtowardstheboy，hersightlessvisageinflamedwithpassion；”thatIamawitch，andoughttohavesufferedwiththehelplessoldwretcheswhoweremurderedatHaddington？””Heartothatnow，”againwhisperedHenry，”andmewhisperinglowerthanawrencheeps！””Iftheusurer，andtheoppressor，andthegrinderofthepoorman’sface，andtheremoverofancientlandmarks，andthesubverterofancienthouses，wereatthesamestakewithme，I
couldsay，’Lightthefire，inGod’sname！’””Thisisdreadful，”saidLucy；”Ihaveneverseenthepoordesertedwomaninthisstateofmind；butageandpovertycanillbearreproach。Come，Henry，wewillleaveherforthepresent；
shewishestospeakwiththeMasteralone。Wewillwalkhomeward，andrestus，”sheadded，lookingatRavenswood，”bytheMermaiden’sWell。””AndAlice，”saidtheboy，”ifyouknowofanyharethatcomesthroughamongthedeer，andmakesthemdroptheircalvesoutofseason，youmaytellher，withmycomplimentstocommand，thatifNormanhasnotgotasilverbulletreadyforher，I’lllendhimoneofmydoublet-buttonsonpurpose。”
Alicemadenoanswertillshewasawarethatthesisterandbrotherwereoutofhearing。ShethensaidtoRavenswood:”Andyou，too，areangrywithmeformylove？Itisjustthatstrangersshouldbeoffended，butyou，too，areangry！””Iamnotangry，Alice，”saidtheMaster，”onlysurprisedthatyou，whosegoodsenseIhaveehardsooftenpraised，shouldgivewaytooffensiveandunfoundedsuspicions。””Offensive！”saidAlice。”Ay，trustiseveroffensive；but，surely，notunfounded。””Itellyou，dame，mostgroundless，”repliedRavenswood。”Thentheworldhaschangeditswont，andtheRavenswoodstheirhereditarytemper，andtheeyesofOldAlice’sunderstandingareyetmoreblindthanthoseofhercountenance。
WhendidaRavenswoodseekthehouseofhisenemybutwiththepurposeofrevenge？andhitherareyoucome，EdgarRavenswood，eitherinfatalangerorinstillmorefatallove。””Inneither，”saidRavenswood，”Igiveyouminehonour——Imean，Iassureyou。”