Alizon, I admit, is an exception to the rest of the family, but that only strengthens the general rule.
Did you ever remark the strange look they all--save the fair maid in question--have about the eyes ?" Richard answered in the negative.
"It is very singular, and I wonder you have not noticed it," pursued Nicholas; "but the question of reputed witchcraft in Mother Demdike has some chance of being speedily settled; for Master Potts, the little London lawyer, who goes with us to Pendle Forest to-morrow, is about to have her arrested and examined before a magistrate." "Indeed!" exclaimed Richard, "this must be prevented." "Why so ?" exclaimed Nicholas, in surprise.
"Because the prejudice existing against her is sure to convict and destroy her," replied Richard.

"Her great age, infirmities, and poverty, will be proofs against her.

How can she, or any old enfeebled creature like her, whose decrepitude and misery should move compassion rather than excite fear--how can such a person defend herself against charges easily made, and impossible to refute?
I do not deny the possibility of witchcraft, even in our own days, though I think it of very unlikely occurrence; but I would determinately resist giving credit to any tales told by the superstitious vulgar, who, naturally prone to cruelty, have so many motives for revenging imaginary wrongs.

It is placing a dreadful weapon in their hands, of which they have cunning enough to know the use, but neither mercy nor justice enough to restrain them from using it.

Better let one guilty person escape, than many innocent perish.