`` And of course nobody wants to offend Peg , because she is spiteful , and she once set fire to a man 's barn in Markdale when he offended her . But she is n't a witch -- that 's ridiculous . '' `` All right . But wait till I tell you . When Peg Bowen was leaving Pat stretched out on the steps . She tramped on his tail . You know Pat does n't like to have his tail meddled with . He slewed himself round and clawed her bare foot . If you 'd just seen the look she gave him you 'd know whether she was a witch or not . And she went off down the lane , muttering and throwing her hands round , just like she did in Lem Hill 's cow pasture . She put a spell on Pat , that 's what she did . He was sick the next morning . '' We looked at each other in miserable , perplexed silence . We were only children -- and we believed that there had been such things as witches once upon a time -- and Peg Bowen WAS an eerie creature . `` If that 's so -- though I ca n't believe it -- we ca n't do anything , '' said the Story Girl drearily . `` Pat must die . '' Cecily began to weep afresh . `` I 'd do anything to save Pat 's life , '' she said . `` I 'd BELIEVE anything . '' `` There 's nothing we can do , '' said Felicity impatiently .
`` I suppose , '' sobbed Cecily , `` we might go XXXXX Peg Bowen and ask her to forgive Pat and take the spell off him .
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