No, that -- that is my lie. They think me a witch because I told Mercy I was.
[ Without the pressure of her father, pushing her to come up with a reason why this is happening without incriminating herself, her immediate response to the twins is more charitable. She doesn't go immediately to the thought that the witchcraft taking place on the farm comes from them, though the half-buried idea continues to fester, and instead remembers the real fear she saw in Mercy's face when she pushed her to the ground. ]
Ever since Sam, the twins have been unbiddable. They spend all the day singing songs about that goat and running wild, and I taking the blame of it. Mercy was a-playing at being the witch of the wood, saying I let her take Sam. She had no idea of what she spoke, and she'd not heed Caleb nor I. So I told her I was the witch what stole him, to quiet her... but I was cruel. She rebuked me at the first, and I kept at it til she was truly affrighted. I told her I'd witch her and Jonas if she said a word, that I signed the Devil's book and could vanish any thing I wished. Naught more would have come of it if that had been the end, but then Caleb disappeared.
[ Will he understand what she means, even a little? Her face is drawn with guilt. ]
I would never hurt them. I but wanted her to stop. And now they believe all I said, and Mother too. Perchance they shall see me hang for it.
no subject
[ Without the pressure of her father, pushing her to come up with a reason why this is happening without incriminating herself, her immediate response to the twins is more charitable. She doesn't go immediately to the thought that the witchcraft taking place on the farm comes from them, though the half-buried idea continues to fester, and instead remembers the real fear she saw in Mercy's face when she pushed her to the ground. ]
Ever since Sam, the twins have been unbiddable. They spend all the day singing songs about that goat and running wild, and I taking the blame of it. Mercy was a-playing at being the witch of the wood, saying I let her take Sam. She had no idea of what she spoke, and she'd not heed Caleb nor I. So I told her I was the witch what stole him, to quiet her... but I was cruel. She rebuked me at the first, and I kept at it til she was truly affrighted. I told her I'd witch her and Jonas if she said a word, that I signed the Devil's book and could vanish any thing I wished. Naught more would have come of it if that had been the end, but then Caleb disappeared.
[ Will he understand what she means, even a little? Her face is drawn with guilt. ]
I would never hurt them. I but wanted her to stop. And now they believe all I said, and Mother too. Perchance they shall see me hang for it.