Wow, thanks, Lydia. That's all very cool! The Museum of the City of New York has Dutch period rooms, and I believe at least one of them has a Delft-tile fireplace, although I can't find any links on line.

The idea of faux-Delft tiles featuring scenes from DS is hilarious!

The tiled fireplace made its first appearance as Vicki's room, also in 1795.

Angelique isn't reluctant at all about hurting other people to get what she wants. She is utterly remorseless. No self-loathing there.

And yes, Barn should see the signs, but he is a thoroughgoing rationalist.

I'm very sorry to hear it, MT. I will keep you in my thoughts.

I think Trask will stop at nothing, even if he has to fight dirty. The only thing he cares about is a trophy.

Clearly captivated by Josette's beauty, Trask has a field day with the mark on her hand. She concedes that bewitchment may be the reason for her strange behavior, and indeed, she feels clearer-headed when the mark vanishes. Trask decides he must exorcise the evil spirit from her. He is in the middle of his ritual when Barnabas stops him, just at the moment he (T.) has dared to put his hands on either side of Josette’s face (as part of the cure, of course).

I remember that the scene with Barnabas and Josette was almost too painful to watch--beautifully done by both.

Much later, Barnabas is brooding in his room when Angelique arrives. Clearly her attitude has changed. Kneeling at his feet, she asks him, "Why didn't you come to me? I waited for you." There's no sex on this show, not even OFF screen! But by the time she leaves, she knows that he will never, ever come to her willingly.

Some good lines in this episode, plus brilliant work by JL as he interrogates the household. He does not ask permission so much as he announces to Joshua that he intends to question everyone in the house, including family members, servants, and guests. Very well, Joshua agrees--as long as you don't create a scandal that would blemish the Collins family name.

André is more than a match for him in what is probably David Ford's finest hour on the show. He declares indignantly, I trust the record, if there is to be a record, will show that I proceeded under duress. And also, we may be fortunate enough to show that I was questioned by a complete idiot.

Joshua is still watching as Trask has much better luck with Angelique herself--at least he thinks he does  (great work by LP here too). We find out that interestingly, she was never baptized, which Trask thinks is a character flaw. My parents died when I was very young, she pleads. I fear the Almighty, and I know nothing of sorcery. The devil has never tempted me because I have such a strong loyalty to my god. Dropping to her knees and clasping her hands, she tells Trask, I want to be a child of religion! I feel closer to God than I ever have before! This instantly gets the Rev.’s close attention. She puts on a brilliant performance. He listens with unwitting, amusingly lascivious rapture when she says, You have filled my being with righteousness! I feel a strange sensation throughout my body! I see a man and a woman conversing in a new, empty house! Is there a new house nearby? Trask asks. Joshua tells him about the New House, which is about fifteen minutes’ walk from the Old House, at the top of the hill. The two men immediately set off. Still kneeling, Angelique smiles triumphantly.

Vicki thanks Nathan for the food. Once more he warns her about her foolish talk. She barely escapes from Joshua and Trask--at least for now….

I should also have mentioned that Sarah probably had a pony. I'll bet Ben taught her how to ride.

Even the first time I saw this story line, I thought the tree test was ridiculous. I imagine that if Trask had found Vicki still tied to the unburned tree in the morning, he would have found some excuse for keeping up his accusations of her. People like Trask need someone to be their prey.

Hooray for the countess, who seems to have changed her mind about Vicki.

Trask refuses to answer any of Barnabas’s questions. Furious, Barnabas reminds Trask, We Americans recently fought a revolution for our rights. He declares, I am defending the right of this girl to be judged innocent until proven innocent! (I didn't make this up, Jonathan must have flubbed a line) and stalks out.

My question is, What are the writers trying to tell us by implying that Barnabas's very rationalism turns out to be a dreadful mistake???

I'm spluttering over your last paragraph, MT!

Possibly in honor of Trask's arrival, Abigail is wearing a second costume. Trask very improperly calls her "Abigail" when he should refer to her only as "Miss Collins."

Maybe it's better that Abigail didn't prick her finger while embroidering--no doubt she would have blamed it on Vicki.

AM is actually pretty good here. At first Vicki is pathetically slow to realize she is in danger of her life, but all Nathan's predictions are fulfilled, and more.