Read Online Replenish the Earth by Anna Jacobs - Free Book Online Page B

d’cost a lot, full sixpence a loaf over in Sawbury, but rye bread be cheaper. If you d’buy a rabbit, he’ll cost you  twopence, but my Petey d’catch ’em in the woods sometimes an’ that costs nothin’.’ She clapped her hands to her mouth in dismay at what she had revealed. ‘Oh, mistress, don’t have him taken up for poaching! They’ll hang him for sure. What hev I said?’
    ‘It’s not poaching. They're my woods, and I give Petey permission to catch rabbits there any time he wishes. Go on! Tell me some more!’
    Mary relaxed again, took a breath and rattled off a list of foodstuffs. ‘Mistress Pursley d’make fine cheeses, but they be tenpence the pound. She sells the best ones in Sawbury, not here. Stewin’ meat be twopence a pound when someone kills a beast. Roastin’ meat costs more. We got plenty o’ fruit, though, and that don’t cost nothin’. There be some nice apple an’ pear trees in the orchard. Me an’ Daniel Macey d’make cider still, just for ourselves, like. Well, them apples'd go to waste otherwise, wouldn’t they? Mr Jamieson said me an’ Petey could eat the fruit, so I stored ’em up careful an’ there be plenty left still. Bit wrinkled, but they d’make a nice pie. An’. . . Mistress! Mistress! What be you a-doin’?’ 
    For Sarah had grabbed her by the waist and swung her round in a clumsy, lop-sided dance, which only came to a halt when they stumbled against the bed and sat down abruptly on it.
    ‘Oh, Mary, Mary! That’s it, don’t you see? When Mr Jamieson told me I wouldn’t be able to manage, I couldn’t understand it. We managed on far less in London, with rent to pay and seacoal to buy. But he seemed so certain it was impossible - and my grandfather hadn’t managed well, had he? But it was my uncle’s debts which caused the trouble. I see that now.’
    She paused a minute to frown and wonder why everyone seemed to have got into debt to Mr Sewell, then pushed that thought aside and continued eagerly, ‘I’m sure I could manage here! I’m strong and healthy, in spite of my lameness.’
    Then she became aware of the anxiety in the other woman’s eyes and guessed what must be the cause of it. ‘Will you stay and help me, Mary? You and your son? I can’t afford to pay you wages, not at first, but one day, if things go well, I’ll make that up to  you. And I will feed you properly and clothe you better.’
    The wrinkles on Mary's weather-beaten face multiplied a hundredfold as she smiled and reached out to grasp her mistress’ hand. ‘Aye, Mistress Sarah, we’ll stay. This be our home too. An’ don’t you worry ’bout wages. Petey don’t understand money anyway. It be kindness as he needs. Kindness an’ shelter an’ food. He’s a strong lad an’ he’ll earn his keep, never you fear! An’ I’m not too old to work hard, neither.’  
    Sarah persuaded her beaming maidservant to return to the kitchen and spent the rest of the time till Will Pursley came back for her going over her house on her own, peering into every chest and cupboard, gloating at the sight of so many things which she could use. Linen, clothes, tableware.
    She decided to move in the next day and sleep in the great chamber. However, the room needed a thorough airing, because you could feel the dampness. She found Petey and directed him to carry the feather mattress down and put it to air before the kitchen fire. Mary was set to scrubbing the bedroom floor and washing the windows, while Petey took the carpet outside into the frosty air and hung it over a line, beating it with great gusto, clumsy thwacks that made him laugh aloud and also caused him much sneezing. 
    So when Will came back, it was to find a woman glowing with hope and bubbling over with ideas, a woman who wouldn’t even listen to the fresh arguments he’d marshalled for her not living here.
    Did she not realise that Sewell’s bullies would be back? Or that Sewell would try other nasty tricks on her? She