Read Online A Break With Charity: A Story About the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi - Free Book Online Page B

then, that little Betty was so terrified. "Her father would never do that," I said.
    "I needed to keep her quiet."
    "And so she became more terrified."
    "She became uncontrollable."
    I was utterly taken aback by this young girl's lack of heart. Indeed, she had no heart. "And that was when her father called the doctor?"
    "She needed a whipping, not a doctor. But then something else happened. The reverend and his wife started to coddle Betty. Abigail got jealous of the attention lavished on her cousin and got the fits, too."
    "So then the rest of you claimed the same affliction," I said dully, still not believing what I was hearing.
    "We had to. Don't you understand? Why let Betty and Abigail have all the sport? They were the center of attention. The other girls and I discussed it. We decided this was our chance to take part in something very wondrous."
    "Wondrous?" I could not abide what I was hearing.
    "Yes! It was our chance to break out of the chains they bind us with in this dreary place. But also, we couldn't abandon Abigail and Betty. They didn't have the sense to carry this matter through and not be discovered. They needed our advice. So we met with them and told them that they must outwit the elders or we would all be terribly punished. We swore fidelity to one another."
    "And will keep that fidelity?"
    "There is no going back now. The die is cast. We are bound together, and we will stay together and give succor to each other until the end."
    Until the end.
The words sounded so dreadful. "So you will continue to deceive, then, though innocent people be named as your tormentors."
    "Don't trouble your head about it, Susanna English. There are people in this town who are far from innocent, who deserve whatever befalls them."
    "And you consider yourself capable of judging who those people might be?"
    She faced me, unflinching. She raised her pointed chin. Her eyes glittered. "I am familiar with the history of Salem. I know who the troublemakers are."
    "You mean your mother will tell you. And they will all be her enemies. You will be her tool, Ann."
    Her face became flushed. She started to tremble. "Only troublemakers, outcasts, and malcontents will be named. We do this place a favor! It is no concern of yours, Susanna English. Why don't you go back to your fancy house with all the gables and not meddle in matters you don't understand?"
    "I understand all I need to," I said. "I wish to God I did not understand."
    Once again her smile took on an evil quality. "I hope you don't intend to break charity with us and tell what we are about. You wouldn't do that, would you, Susanna English?"
    Now it was my turn to tremble. For what I was facing in this young girl was evil, pure and simple. I had heard of evil all my life, in Meeting, from ministers. I had heard people speak of it in casual terms. But never before I stood in that room that day with Ann Putnam did I feel its presence. I did then, and it was terrible to behold.
    "I think you will not tell what you know," she said quietly. "For if you do, we will cry out on your parents."
    "Cry out?" I asked.
    "Let me put it plain, Susanna English. We will name them as witches."
    "Everyone will then know you for a grievous liar!" I shouted.
    Her laughter pealed. "We can name anyone. The power has been given to us by the ministers themselves. They anxiously look to us for the names. In a fortnight, we will be questioned again in the Parris study. I think you will not tell, Susanna English."
    "God forgive you!"
    "Hold your tongue! Or your household will be touched."
    I could not believe this was happening. I looked around me, around the well-appointed company room that so resembled ours at home, a room that bespoke the solid dedication to God and family and place that was at the heart of all Puritan belief. And I knew in my bones, in that moment, that what went on in these sturdy walls would soon disrupt our whole way of life in Salem.
    And I was powerless to do anything about it. I felt