Several of her acquaintances, pious and orthodox goodwives of the village, said the same thing.

Master Parris thought he was a very good horseman besides; and began to take the same view.

There was the horse, and he was the man! So one afternoon John Indian saddled and bridled the mare, and brought her up to the horse-block.

Susannah had allowed herself to be saddled without the slightest manifestation of ill-humor; probably the idea of stretching her limbs a little, was decidedly pleasant in view of the small amount of exercise she had taken lately.
But the wisest plan was not thought of.

The minister's niece, Abigail Williams--one of the "afflicted"-- had looked upon the black mare with longing eyes; and if she had made the experiment, it probably would have been successful.