Hour of the Witch

Peregrine, Jonathan, and their children visit Mary at her parents’ home, and Mary enquires whether Peregrine ever saw Thomas strike Anne Drury, his first wife. Anne Drury died from a broken neck, allegedly the result of a horse kicking her. Peregrine says she never saw anything of the sort while Jonathan condemns Mary for upsetting the natural order of “husband and wife.”

When Mary visits the Reverend John Norton, he agrees with Mary’s actions but reminds Mary of what hangs in the balance—her very life. Though Mary knows this is true if she stays married to Thomas, she also begins to worry there is a greater threat of violence that might await her if she is accused of witchcraft.

Thomas once more seeks Mary, who is missing her life in England and her brother who still resides there. He continues to beg her to return home and, since they are alone, claims that his abuse was only to discipline her into salvation and submission. Though Mary refuses his explanations and pleas, Thomas promises that, should she return home, he will never hit her again. Knowing this is false, she refuses Thomas, and he leaves angry.

The next day, Mary takes a walk and decides to avoid the docks so she won’t be seen with Henry but, to her surprise, he is at her parents’ home when she returns.