witchery

You are right to some extent in what you say. In the olden days people had a stronger belief in all kinds of witchery; now they pretend not to believe in it, that they may be looked upon as sensible and educated people, as you say.

[…] It may be they know something of the witcheries of this woman.

At noon, when by the forest’s edge

He lay beneath the branches high,

The soft blue sky did never melt

Into his heart,—he never felt

The witchery of the soft blue sky!