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Show Page 61 "Gnawing on other's scraps and leavings when you couldn't steal money enough to buy food," snorted Margaret. "You should thank God He saw fit to send you to Virginia where you'll have a chance at a good life if you're willing to work hard and serve yourindenture proper like-and be respectful to your masters," she added sternly. Walter came through the door with a fresh lug pole. When it was set snugly on the ledges in the fireplace, he turned to Twig. "Need help in the field," he said, before disappearing through the door again. "He'll be somewhat late," Margaret called after her husband. "I have need of him for a bit. "When you're finished," she said, turning to Twig, "I want you to take Sarah to the potter's for a new pipkin. "Servants are not allowed to engage.in trade," she explained to me, "so you'll have to do the bartering." Twig pushed himself up from his stool. "You'll not be going afore you've scoured the trenchers," Margaret told him, over-sharply I thought. But as she walked to the door to carry the pieces of broken pipkin to the trash pit and collect some eggs to trade for the new one, Margaret reached out a hand and smoothed Twig's unruly thatch (which, in truth, looked like a nest of dried leaves). Twig said naught as I helped him clear the table and cleanse the trenchers. Then a jerk of his head told me to follow him outside. |