The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Elizabeth George Speare [73]
"Is that proper writing?" he demanded in unbelief. "Prudence Cruff, does it say, right out as it should?"
The magistrate glanced at the writing and handed the copybook to Gershom Bulkeley.
"Very proper writing, I should say," Dr. Bulkeley commented, "for a child with no learning."
The magistrate leaned to take the pen out of the small fingers. Goodman Cruff tiptoed back to the bench. The bluster was gone from him. He looked dazed.
"Now Prudence," the magistrate continued. "You say that Mistress Tyler taught you to read?"
"What sort of reading?" Goodwife Cruff rose in a frenzy. "Magic signs and spells I tell you! The child would never know the difference."
Gershom Bulkeley also rose to his feet. "That at least will be easy to prove," he suggested reasonably. "What can you read, child?"
"I can read the Bible."
Dr. Bulkeley picked up the Great Bible from the table and turned the pages thoughtfully. Then, moving to hand the Book to Prudence, he realized that it was too heavy for her to hold and laid it carefully on the table beside her. "Read that for us, child, beginning right there."
Kit held her breath. Was it the tick of the great clock that sounded so frightening, or her own heart? Then across the silence came a whisper.
"Buy the truth, and sell it not;
also wis-wisdom, and in-in-instruction, and
understanding."
The childish voice slowly gained strength and clarity till it reached every corner of the room.
"The father of the right-righteous shall greatly
rejoice; and he that begetteth a wish child shall
have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother
shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice."
In the warm rush of pride that welled up in her, Kit forgot her fear. For the first time she dared to look back at Nat Eaton where he stood near the door. Across the room their eyes met, and suddenly it was as though he had thrown a line straight into her reaching hands. She could feel the pull of it, and over its taut span strength flowed into her, warm and sustaining.
When finally she looked away she realized that everyone in the room was staring at the two parents. They had both leaned forward, their mouths open in shock and unbelief. As she listened, Goodwife Cruff's face darkened and her eyes narrowed. She saw now that she had been tricked. The fresh anger that was gathering would be vented on her child.
On the father's face a new emotion seemed to be struggling. As the thin voice ended, Goodwife Cruff drew in her breath through her teeth in a venemous hiss. But before she could release it her husband sprang forward.
"Did you hear that?" he demanded widely, of everyone present. All at once his shoulders straightened. "That was real good reading. I'd like to see any boy in this town do better!"
"It's a trick!" denied his wife. "That child could never read a word in her life! She's bewitched, I tell you!"
"Hold your tongue, woman," shouted her husband unexpectedly. "I'm sick and tired of hearing about Prudence being bewitched. All these years you been telling me our child was half-witted. Why, she's smart as a whip. I bet it warn't much of a trick to teach her to read."
Goodwife Cruff's jaw dropped. For one moment she was struck utterly dumb, and in that moment her husband stepped into his rightful place. There was a new authority in his voice.
"All my life I've wished I could read. If I'd had a son, I'd of seen to it he learned his letters. Well, this is a new country over here, and who says it may not be just as needful for a woman to read as a man? Might give her summat to think about besides witches and foolishness. Any rate, I got someone now to read the Good Book to me of an evening, and if that's the work of the devil, then I say 'tis a mighty queer thing for the devil to go working against himself!"
The magistrate had not interrupted this speech. There was a glint of amusement in his eye as he asked, "I take it then, Goodman Cruff, that you withdraw your charges against this young woman?"
"Yes," he answered loudly. "Yes. I'll withdraw the charges."
"Adam Cruff!"