evening, about six o'clock
She still visited occasionally among the villagers , and contributed to their wants as far as she could ; but a good deal of her time was occupied with Master Drury now , and Dame Coppins was almost forgotten , apparently . She was therefore greatly surprised one day to receive a message from a village lad , saying she was wanted down the lane . She had no doubt who wanted her , but she did not intend going ; she would not give Dame Coppins the opportunity of bewitching her any more ; and so merely saying , `` Prithee , I will think about it , '' she walked home as fast as she could . That evening , about six o'clock , just as they were about to assemble for supper , one of the maids came to her and whispered that she was wanted ; a man , who refused to say who he was or where he came from , demanded to see her . Maud shivered : such mysterious messages were disagreeable , and she was just about to say she would not go , when Mistress Mabel appearing in the passage settled the matter ; for had she heard her refuse , there would have been an instant inquiry , and the lady would not have rested until she found out all about the supposed witch and Maud 's charities in the village . So to prevent this she threw a cloak over her head , and followed the maid , without speaking , to where a muffled figure stood outside the door . She had only stepped off the threshold , when a gust of wind blew the door close , and at the same moment her wrist was seized , and she was dragged away from the house ; and before she could even scream , or give any alarm , she was lifted on to a horse , and the man sprang up before her , and galloped away into the village .