Susannah rose from the table with importance. Now that she was the mistress of the ordinary, she had been tasked with examining the accused—perhaps the only job my father had given her since their marriage. But it saddened me that I could not protect Rebecca or Dorothy from the shame.
Everyone in the room looked toward the door where Rebecca and Dorothy stood, butIlooked at the afflicted girls. How could they sit there and watch this happen? Some whispered it was because they were servants and orphans past marrying age, seeking attention. Others said it was because the atrocities they had seen in the Indian wars had addled their brains.
It didn’t matter to me. I couldn’t abide either of them.
Suddenly, Mercy stood and pointed toward a corner of the room and screamed. All eyes turned to her.
“I see the specter of Goody Proctor!” she cried. “She hath come to hurt us and demand we sign the devil’s book.”
Mary’s eyes grew large. Elizabeth Proctor was her mistress. What would happen if Goody Proctor was brought in for questioning? Would her husband John turn Mary out?
For a split second, Mary seemed to vacillate—but with all the attention on her, she had no choice. She began to cry out, as well. No one looked at Rebecca or Dorothy any longer.
People rushed to Mary and Mercy’s side, trying to calm them. They writhed and screamed, shouting as if they were being pinched and pricked by needles.
I stood, motionless, unsure what to do.
Hope stepped out of the kitchen and quickly took in the scene. She walked over to Mercy and put her hand on Mercy’s shoulder, her knuckles white as she pressed upon the young woman.
“Stop this,” Hope said in a firm voice, silencing the whole room—including Mercy and Mary. “There is no specter. Quiet yourself, Mercy Lewis, or leave the ordinary and take your antics elsewhere.”
Mercy looked up at Hope, her mouth slipping open in surprise—and my breath caught. Had Hope angered her? Would she accuse Hope next?
Slowly, a smile tilted Mercy’s lips, and she began to laugh. “We must have some sport, Hope.”
Several people gasped at this declaration, but Father quickly stepped in.
“Away with the accused,” he said to the constable who ushered Rebecca and Dorothy up the stairs.
Susannah pressed her lips together in disapproval. She scowled at Hope and then strode to Father’s side. Sidling up to him, she whispered into his ear. He nodded and looked toward Hope as Susannah left the room and walked up the stairs, presumably to examine Rebecca and Dorothy.
I followed Hope into the kitchen.
She crossed her arms and paced, anger radiating off her. “This is absurd. Those girls are taking advantage of this situation—”
Father slammed through the kitchen door, his face distorted in rage. We both jumped.
“You have no right to question the afflicted,” he said, getting close to Hope. “They suffer unimaginable torments—things we cannot see or hear.”
“Mercy admitted she doth this for sport,” Hope said incredulously, not backing away from him. “She’s lying for attention, and you believe her. The hysteria is growing because of fear, and the Putnam family is using it to their benefit. When will it end? After all their enemies are accused?”
“Hold your tongue,” Father said, leaning forward until his nose was inches away from Hope’s face. “You are accusing my wife’s family.”
“Iam your family,” Hope cried. “Yet you care little about what I think or feel.”
Father breathed heavily. “You embarrass me with your disrespect, especially in front of our patrons. Leave the questioning to the elders. You are a mere girl who knows nothing.”
Hope stared at him, her eyes hard. “I am a woman with a mind that God gave to me.”
“Then use your mind to keep your mouth shut.” Father glared at her for another heartbeat and then left the kitchen.
“I will not stop questioning the afflicted,” Hope said, pushing away from the worktable to pace again. “I believe Reverend Parris’s daughter was afflicted with an illness that cannot be explained—but the others have been driven by fear, attention, or revenge. Mercy Lewis is only doing this for show. You saw how she acted out there. She is a troubled young woman who loves having control. Nothing more.”
I moved closer to Hope and put my arms around her. “You’re afraid, too,” I said as I hugged her.
She was stiff in my arms. “I’m not afraid.”
“It’s okay to admit your fear, Hope. All of us are afraid from time to time. It’s only natural.”
