Wide is the Water Read Online Free PDF Page A

broth. Would you make up the fire for me, Jed, and I’ll heat some for Mrs. Paston? I must go see how she is.’
    She had slept a long time. The light was beginning to fade, and she could just make out the two still figures in the improvised bedroom. Ruth had fallen asleep on the floor, her head awkwardly propped against her mother’s cot.
    â€˜Shh …’ said Mrs. Paston softly. ‘Don’t wake her. There’s time enough for her to be unhappy. You are going to look after her, aren’t you, Mercy?’ Her face had changed, sunk in, the jaw dropped a little, and Mercy thought talking hurt her.
    â€˜Yes. But now I’m going to bring you some broth.’
    â€˜No. I’d rather you stayed. I don’t seem to want food, and I do need to talk to you. I’ve been lying here, thinking what’s best for you to do. I think you should go back south, Mercy. To Hart’s family. They’re Ruth’s family too, after all. I don’t rightly understand why Hart brought you north in the first place.’
    â€˜He had to. It’s not safe for me in Savannah, not now the British hold it. I was working against them. They found out.’ Behind the brief statement lay memory of Francis Mayfield’s implacable search for her on Hutchinson Island, Hart’s last-minute rescue, and Francis’s horrible death. ‘Hart saved my life,’ she said.
    â€˜Dear Hart. I loved him like a son. Like my Mark.’ Two slow tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘Hart was lonely here at the North,’ she said. ‘Would have been if it hadn’t been for us. We New Englanders are a close, closed lot. I’d go back south if I were you, Mercy. If not to Savannah, then why not Charleston? Doesn’t Mrs. Mayfield have a house there?’
    â€˜There’s a rumour the British are going to attack Charleston.’ She had learned this as a spy in Savannah. ‘Hart will look for me here. He promised to come in the spring.’ Once again a superstitious shiver went through her as she remembered that bold promise about prizes.
    â€˜Of course. Stupid me. But I’m afraid you’ll find it hard here. They don’t like Ruth much. She scares them. I’ve sometimes been afraid … Absurd, of course. Nobody would. We’re civilised these days. Or think so. But these are strange times. They bring out the brute in men. My cousin Golding said he was taking the children away because … because he was afraid. Possessed, he called her. My little Ruth. I wish you’d take her south, Mercy.’
    â€˜I wish I could,’ said Mercy. ‘But things aren’t so bad as you think, Mrs. Paston. The man who drove me here has gone to fetch his friends. He says they’ll be angry at what’s happened to Mark Paston’s family. He promised to be back tonight.’
    â€˜I hope he comes,’ said Mrs. Paston. And then: ‘Hush,child.’ Ruth had sat bolt upright with a strangled scream. ‘It was only a dream, only a bad dream. I’m here. Mercy’s here. No one will hurt you. Mercy won’t let them. Mercy’s going to look after you.’
    â€˜I’m going to make us all some broth,’ said Mercy as Ruth’s screams dwindled into a quiet, desperate sobbing. ‘Mrs. Frobisher sent a great basket of provisions, God bless her.’
    â€˜I hope her husband doesn’t find out,’ said Mrs. Paston.
    She made a gallant effort to eat the broth Mercy fed her, but it was no use. ‘Don’t waste it on me,’ she said at last. ‘Give me a little more of that blessed rum, and at least I’ll die cheerful.’
    â€˜You’re not going to die, Mother.’ Food had brought colour to Ruth’s cheeks. ‘You’re going to live forever and ever and ever.’
    â€˜I’m glad I’m not,’ said Mrs. Paston, and Mercy guessed at the pain she was concealing. ‘And if I should