Free Or Give Me Death by Ann Rinaldi Page A

says this is the age of oratory, the age of enlightened men! And you two are going back to witchery and piracy! Was there no civility at the Hoopers'? No dancing?"
    They looked shamefaced. "We danced," William said. "Know what they're saying at the Hoopers'?"
    "Dare I ask?"
    "That there's a crazy woman in the cellar at Scotchtown."
    Dear God!
    But I mustn't let them see my concern. "Oh, Mrs. Hooper's just in a pet because their name was published in the
Gazette
for going against the nonimportation laws," I told them.
    Anne giggled. "Guess who we met in the woods on the way home? Sarah Hallam and Jonathan Snead."
    "What do you mean 'in the woods'?"
    "Just that," Anne said excitedly. "They had horses. When she ran off, Sarah took a horse and Jonathan had his. And they're living in the woods. Like Indians!"
    "And they're happy," William said.
    "And they're not married. But they're going to be, soon's they find a preacher," said Anne.
    "Aren't they terribly wet from the storm?" I asked.
    "Oh yes," Anne said. "They said they'd been soaked and were looking for shelter. I invited them here."
    "You what?"
    "Well"—she looked up at me—"doesn't Pa always say we should open our doors to those less fortunate than us?"
    I said nothing. She was right.
    "Where's Mama?" she asked.
    "We want to see her," William said.
    I looked down at their upturned faces. "She's resting."
    "She's the crazy woman in the cellar, isn't she?" Anne asked.
    "No. She isn't crazy."
    "Then we want to see her," William said firmly.
    "Even if she is crazy, we want to see her," Anne put in.
    Their eyes were swords, piercing me. I don't know what I would have done if Pegg hadn't come into the room just then.
    "Miss Patsy, Betsy wet the bed last night."
    "Betsy doesn't wet at night anymore," I said.
    Pegg grunted. "She do now." And her eyes met mine, almost defiantly.
    Anne whispered to me. "You ought to let Pegg help Mama, with her remedies. She's the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter, and they have powers."
    Oh God, I thought, how am I to tell them about Mama? What am I to tell them? They shouldn't see her as she is now. But how to keep them from seeing her?
    I glanced helplessly at Pegg. She shooed the children from the room. "Miss Patsy, what you gonna do 'bout the children?"
    "What's to be done?" I asked dismally.
    "I fancy the reason Betsy be startin' to wet is 'cause she wanna go back to bein' a baby. To the way it was then, when her mama weren't crazy."
    "You fancy that, do you?"
    "Yes." She stood before me, taller because of the turban she wore. Rings dangling from her ears. She was very tall and her carriage was excellent. She was not beautiful, as white people describe beauty, but she was in another way. In the way that her eyes spoke, and her mouth held firm. And in the pride that I could never have.
    If that was not beauty, what was?
    "An' Anne can't go back to wettin' the bed. So she gonna give you trouble in other ways. Only way she can think of now is to cut her hair. And William. The other day I see him in the barn wif one of Mr. MyJohn's pipes. Smokin'."
    I sighed.
    "All the children in a state on account of your mama. You gotta tell them the truth about her."
    "I have no truth to tell," I snapped. "What truth is there?"
    "There be only one truth, Miss Patsy. An' if you can't do it, I will. I can, but you gots to give me back the authority I always had round heah, Miss Patsy."
    "I never told the children you didn't have authority."
    "They knows it. By the way you talk to me. You always tellin' Anne not to mind my stories."
    "I'm mistress of the place now. Pa wants it that way." It was all I could think of to say.
    "Well, of course you is, Miss Patsy!" Her tone was smooth as honey. "But you gots to give me authority with the children, else they don't listen and run wild."
    Oh, it would be so easy to do as she wanted. But I would be giving in to her. Handing back the reins.
    "You is tired," she said. "How long has it been since you worked on