with dribbling mouth and red eyes. Her few long black teeth hung loosely like tusks and the folds of fat on her chin curled down on her great neck. Bles shuddered and stepped back.
“Is you afeared, honey?” she whispered.
“No,” he said sturdily.
She chuckled drily. ‚ÄúYes, you is‚ÅÝ‚Äîeverybody‚Äôs ‚Äôfeared of old Elspeth; but she won‚Äôt hurt you‚ÅÝ‚Äîyou‚Äôs got the spell;‚Äù and wheeling again, she was back at the fire.
“But the seed?” he ventured.
She pointed impressively roofward. ‚ÄúThe dark of the moon, boy, the dark of the moon‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe first dark‚ÅÝ‚Äîat midnight.‚Äù
Bles could not wring another word from her; nor did the ancient witch, by word or look, again give the slightest indication that she was aware of his presence.