Abigail's disappearance makes plain her dishonesty and deceptiveness, something the courts have been unwilling to see up until now. She lies to her uncle, telling him that she'll be spending the night at her friend, Mercy Lewis's, house -- Mercy tells the same lie at her house -- and then Abigail robs her uncle blind. Before boarding a ship, she breaks into Reverend Parris's strongbox, and steals his life's savings. It begins to look as...
Abigail's disappearance makes plain her dishonesty and deceptiveness, something the courts have been unwilling to see up until now. She lies to her uncle, telling him that she'll be spending the night at her friend, Mercy Lewis's, house -- Mercy tells the same lie at her house -- and then Abigail robs her uncle blind. Before boarding a ship, she breaks into Reverend Parris's strongbox, and steals his life's savings. It begins to look as though Abigail is not the righteous, holy, instrument of God the courts initially believed her to be; instead, she appears to be a conniving and deceitful young woman, determined to serve herself and get out of Salem before the tide turns against her.
Abigail's dishonesty casts doubt on the accusations she has made thus far. Her disappearance is just one of many reasons, however, that Reverend Parris and Mr. Hale beg Deputy Governor Danforth to postpone the hangings. Despite the many reasons to delay, Danforth refuses, insisting that it will only cast doubt on the guilt of others who have been hanged for the same crimes already. He seems to understand, now, that Abigail is a vicious liar, but he will not risk his credibility or authority by walking back on the convictions.
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