ALTHA feels exposed in a courtroom despite being dressed, as men gaze at her hungrily, while a sympathetic onlooker averts his eyes.
Unable to bear the sight of the onlookers, she draws comfort in a spider, an unintentional companion from the dungeons.
ALTHA scratched off her birthmark, fearing its association with witchcraft, especially after its examination by Dr. Smythson.
The birthmark, referred to as a witch’s or devil’s mark, was identical to her mother's, adding to the superstitions around her familial resemblance.
ALTHA reflects on her mother's appearance, their similarities, and how her mother might perceive the current situation if she were alive.
She muses over the men in the courtroom, questioning their understanding of souls and morality amidst their eagerness to condemn her.
ALTHA claims firsthand experience with the devil and insists that Grace, another key individual, shares her awareness of these supernatural encounters.
In the dungeons, ALTHA’s dreams oscillate between images of the devil, Grace, and memories of her deceased mother.
As the trial disrupts ALTHA's mundane life routines, it triggers an evaluation of her past, especially the significance of her daily activities before the trial.
Daniel Kirkby, a witness and someone whose birth ALTHA and her mother had assisted, nervously testifies about his work at the Milburn farm and the events of New Year's Day.
Daniel recounts how the normally calm cows became frenzied, injuring John Milburn amidst the chaos, leading the courtroom to gasp at the suggestion of bewitchment.
The prosecutor expresses orchestrated gratitude for Daniel's testimony, eliciting a feeling of dread about the implications for ALTHA.
Daniel observes ALTHA’s arrival on the scene post-incident, her respectful covering of John's body, and her instructing him to fetch Dr. Smythson.
He also shares his unease before the incident, feeling watched, and the prosecutor pounces on this detail to suggest a witch’s presence.