Susannah Morrow by Megan Chance

Author:Megan Chance [Chance, Megan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical
ISBN: 0446529532
Publisher: Warner
Published: 2002-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

I COULD NOT THINK OF WHAT TO DO, ONLY THAT I MUST DO SOMEthing. My daughter had disobeyed me, she had met in secret with girls I had forbidden her to see, and she had lied to me about it. Charity had never done such a thing before.

I waited until I felt I could contain my temper, and then I went to her bedroom. I did not give her time to find a way to avoid me. I opened the door.

She was standing at the window, hugging herself, fingering the edges of her shawl. She looked alone, strangely forlorn. I had to steel myself to discipline her.

“You have been seeing those girls, despite my commands not to,” I said.

She turned to me in surprise, and opened her mouth. I held up my hand to stop her.

“Don’t lie to me again, Charity. I know you have been meeting with them at the parsonage.”

“Mis-Mistress Parris has been ill.”

“And who better to comfort her than a group of gossiping girls?” I shook my head. “’Twill not do, Charity. I will not tolerate lies. I will not tolerate such disobedience.”

She pressed her lips together, looking as if she might cry, and I hardened my heart against it. “I wonder at you. What is it about them that compels you enough to disobey me? You know better than this. Are the lessons I’ve taught you meaningless?”

“No, Father. ’Tis just…Do not…Do not ask me not to see them. Please.”

“Your mother disliked them. Even were I to set aside her feelings, I have my own experience to consider. You were never a liar before now.”

She bent her head and quietly sobbed.

I did not waver. “’Tis a sin, and one I do not take lightly. Nor should you. You will keep yourself home for the next two weeks and study the text I will give you. We will pray that God forgives you. You are not to see those girls again.”

I had expected more tears, pleas to rend my heart, but ’twas as if I’d said some spell, some word that miraculously calmed her. Her sobbing stopped. Slowly she lifted her head, and I found myself staring into eyes still wet but amazingly composed. Again I had the sense of my daughter full grown. This was not a child standing before me now.

“As you wish, Father,” she said. “Forgive me. ’Tis Mama’s death.…I have felt alone, or I would not have turned to them.”

She stole my self-righteous anger, my need to discipline. “Aye. Well…you are not alone, Charity. God has given you a family who loves you, and His grace is bountiful, should you submit to His will.”

Charity nodded. Her glance slid to the window, as if something caught her attention there.

“There is one other thing,” I told her. “It disturbs me to see the way you disrespect your aunt. She is here to help you. Now that your mother is gone—” I broke off, disturbed by the sudden fear on Charity’s face. “Charity. Child, is something wrong?”

She swallowed.

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