The Witches of New York

Reverend Townsend is in his study, delaying writing his sermon. He is not fond of his arrangement with Sister Piddock, who demands to have his sermons in advance so she can arrange the right hymns. He reflects on his lineage, many of whom were also preachers, like his illustrious grandfather, Deodat Townsend. When he died, a crown of feathers was found in his pillowcase, and the family remained divided about whether it was a sign of witchcraft or divinity.

Townsend then reflects on his latest abduction: the girl from the park, whom he believes was a devil in a child’s body. He left her battered, hoping the two men who collected Lena’s body would appear once again. As his meeting with Sister Piddock nears, he consults his grandfather’s Bible for inspiration. Tucked inside, he finds a leaflet entitled “An Attempt to Cure Witchcraft” that recounts how a Reverend M. cured an alleged bewitched woman, Mercy Wylde, through fasting and prayer. Mercy Wylde then became an influential cautionary tale for others in her community.

A news article announces that Freemasons will be parading down Fifth Avenue the following day.

Beatrice writes her aunt a letter detailing everything she’s felt and done since discovering her powers, but she burns it. She attempts to scry in the flames as Eleanor taught her to help her determine which path to take: Eleanor’s cautious approach to witchcraft or Adelaide’s ambition of making a spectacle of her powers. The experiment with Dr. Brody at the hotel left a favorable opinion among everyone involved, and plans were made to exhibit Beatrice’s powers during the parade, though Beatrice would be disguised as the “Egyptian Sybil.” Beatrice, however, has more modest ambitions. She wants to write a book of odd stories called A Census of Astonishments. Just as she is about to turn away from the flames, a beastly face appears, and she orders it to leave.

Three sex workers are working a street corner near Madison Square Park. The youngest, Jenny Greene, rubs her rabbit’s foot, hoping to have enough work to pay back her roommate and fellow sex worker, Elsie. She convinces the other two girls to go to the park where the Freemasons are gathering. Reverend Townsend walks toward them, and Jenny offers her services. He agrees, and they go to a secluded space down the street, where he throws money at her. When she positions herself for him, he grabs her by the hair and slits her throat. Reverend Townsend watches with joy as she dies, and he hopes one day soon, he will save the soul of someone like Mercy Wylde.

Beatrice is being fitted in her elaborate, Egyptian-inspired gown. Judith gives her a doll holding a card called Miss Fortuna. When she spins it to know her fortune, it tells her to always have courage.

In the hotel reading room, Brody is approached by his friend, Andersen, who asks him to intervene on behalf of Sophie Miles, whom he believes is being wrongfully kept at Blackwell’s Island. Sensing that his friend would willingly help Sophie escape, Brody promises to consider it. Alone again, Brody contemplates his growing feelings for Adelaide. He plans to express them to her should the night turn out to be a success. He ponders over questions he would like to ask his father’s ghost about the afterlife and the true nature of witchcraft.

At the tea shop, Eleanor worries about Beatrice’s desire to emulate Adelaide, knowing the latter’s strength hides her vulnerabilities. She receives a telegram from Lucy asking for an urgent meeting at her home.

Adelaide hands out notices about Beatrice’s show at the park and peruses the stalls. Sister Piddock, whom Beatrice recognizes as the woman who scared Beatrice, tells her to repent for her sinful ways. Adelaide decides to scare her by showing her scarred face. She then buys a pretzel from Isaac, their neighborhood baker’s son, and instructs a stray dog to follow him. As she sits on a bench, she ponders her growing feelings for Brody. Called forth by her daughter’s thoughts, Adelaide’s mother reappears in the park, where she has been lost since the Dearlies tricked her out of the tea shop. She witnessed Townsend leading the girl away, and when she sees him in the park once again, she tries to warn Adelaide.

Beatrice arrives in the park and tries to find Adelaide. Dodging spirits and parade-goers, Beatrice moves through the crowd when a wealthy man, Gildeon Palsham, stops her. He asks her about her connection to the obelisk, claiming to have seen her touch it on the train. Reverend Townsend suddenly intervenes, demanding that Palsham unhand her. Adelaide then appears and draws Beatrice away, while the Bird Lady sings, “He’s here! He means to catch a witch!” (296).

Reverend Townsend is inspired by what he witnessed at the park. He believes Adelaide is in league with the devil and that she has bewitched Beatrice. Thinking God is testing him to save Beatrice like Mercy Wylde, he packs a bag with a chemist bottle before delivering the theme of his sermon to Sister Piddock.

Eleanor, meanwhile, goes to Lucy’s home, only to find her husband, Cecil Newland, waiting for her. Lucy has allegedly run away, and her husband found one of her diaries that detailed her affair with Eleanor. Though Eleanor assures him she is not a threat to their marriage, Cecil calls her a “freakish ghoul” and promises to have his revenge.

Back at the hotel, Beatrice paces, worrying over the show and feeling out of her depth. Adelaide is short with her and calls her a child. Later, Beatrice wanders out of the room to look for Eleanor. She walks down the street and contemplates quitting the show and returning to Stony Point. When she is near the tea shop, someone grabs her.

Eleanor arrives at the hotel, shaken by her encounter. When she meets with Adelaide, they realize Beatrice has disappeared. They look for her but cannot find her. Brody takes over her presentation while Eleanor and Adelaide head to the shop, only to find it empty. Adelaide feels responsible for her disappearance and goes out into the city to look for her.

Alone in the shop, Eleanor coaxes Perdu out of his hiding spot, and he cries out, “Fiend!” He points out an arsenic jar on the ground. Eleanor deduces that Cecil Newland came into their shop with nefarious purposes. With Perdu’s help, she verifies that their wares are still safe to use. She asks the raven whether Cecil took Beatrice but can only understand that another “fiend” had done so.

Adelaide and Brody return to the tea shop. The Dearlies worry over Beatrice’s fate, hoping they did enough to prepare her.

Beatrice wakes in a cellar and finds that someone has cut off most of her hair and taken her elaborate dress away. Fearful, she cries out for help. Though she hears footsteps above her, no one comes to release her.