, and within a week they have "cried out" (as they called it) 14 "witches." An official court has been set up. John Proctor is particularly worried about Abigail Williams, who has become the girls' ringleader. Abigail had been his maidservant before Mary Warren. When John's wife, Elizabeth, fell ill, he had turned to Abigail in his loneliness, and at least once made love with her in the barn. He repented it immediately, and confessed to Elizabeth, who put Abigail out of the house. Now Proctor is afraid that Abigail means to "dance with him on his wife's grave." He doesn't believe in witches, and he knows what mischief Abigail is capable of, so he decides to go to the court and denounce her. But before he can leave, the marshalls come to arrest Elizabeth: Abigail has "cried her out."By now the jail is bursting with "witches," and no one seems safe. Rebecca Nurse, the most respectable person in the Village, has been convicted and sentenced to hang. John Proctor brings Mary Warren to the court with a statement saying it's all pretense. This is a serious accusation, and the judges--Hathorne and Deputy Governor Danforth--want proof. So Proctor confesses his lechery with Abigail; but when Elizabeth is brought in to corroborate the charge, she denies it, thinking to spare her husband's name. Then Abigail and the other girls turn on Mary Warren and cry her out. Her resolve collapses and she renounces her statement. Proctor "witched her" into writing it, she says. Proctor is hauled off to jail.By October, 11 witches have gone to the gallows. On the morning John Proctor and seven others--including Rebecca Nurse--are to hang, strange rumors are going around. Other towns have risen up against their witch courts and overthrown them. Reverend Hale, who had believed John Proctor's story and had denounced the proceedings when Proctor was arrested, has now returned, and he's trying to get the prisoners to "confess" and save their lives, even if it means...
