The Spell of Mrs. Carmody. The Second Night in the Market. The Final Confrontation.

           Itwasmyturntosleep,andforfourhoursIremembernothingatall.AmandatoldmeItalkedalot,andscrearnedonceortwice,butIremembernodreams.WhenIwokeupitwasafternoon.Iwasterriblythirsty.Someofthemilkhadgoneover,butsomeofitwasstillokay.Idrankaquart.

           AmandacameovertowhereBilly,Mrs.Turman,andIwere.Theoldmanwhohadofferedtomakeatryfortheshotguninthetrunkofhiscarwaswithher-Cornell,Iremembered.AmbroseCornell.

           "Howareyou,son?"heasked.

           "Allright."ButIwasstillthirstyandmyheadached.Mostofall,Iwasscared.IslippedanarmaroundBillyandlookedfromCornelltoAmanda."What’sup?"

           Amandasaid,"Mr.CornellisworriedaboutthatMrs.Carmody.SoamI."

           "Billy,whydon’tyoutakeawalkoverherewithme?"Hattieasked.

           "Idon’twantto,"Billysaid.

           "Goon,BigBill,"Itoldhim,andhewent-reluctantly.

           "NowwhataboutMrs.Carmody?"Iasked.

           "She’sstirrinthingsup,"Cornellsaid.Helookedatmewithanoldman’sgrimness."Ithinkwegottoputastoptoitjustaboutanywaywecan."

           Amandasaid."Therearealmostadozenpeoplewithhernow.It’slikesomecrazykindofachurchservice."

           IrememberedtalkingwithawriterfriendwholivedinOtisfieldandsupportedhiswifeandtwokidsbyraisingchickensandturningoutonepaperbackoriginalayear-spystories.Wehadgottentalkingaboutthebulgeinpopularityofbooksconcerningthemselveswiththesupernatural.