beldam

“Oh, keep going,” whispered a ghost voice in her ear, “for the beldam is angry.”

The old beldam called him, and thought him, the shrewdest boy that ever lived; but, in truth, she had left him no longer a boy, in aught but size and looks.

"Well, well, scornful mistress Lena, you may rue," replied the beldam.

"That beldam!" he exclaimed, with a terrible oath, and then, "God help them!" he said--twice.

To show the beldam daughters of her daughter.