Dr. Crider

Ellie said the next morning," It's been a while since Mistress Came downstairs. This might be the day.."

Atleast once a work Mistress Trippett surprised them in the kitchen to make sure that all was neat and no one was idle.

And just after breakfast, they heard the clink of her heels on the front stairs.

"I told you.!" whispered Ellie.

The servants stood-like soldiers. Mistress Trippet came down into the kitchen. She looked small, even in her high heels and her tall, red wig. Her eyes were like little black beads.

She swept through the kitchen. She peered into the pantry and the cupboards. She opened the door to the back stairs.

Amanda held her breath. Jemmy and Meg were there. Once Mistress Trippett had called them idle brats. But today she almost smiled as she shut the door.

"The children have grown," she said."How old is the boy

"8 ma'am"

"And the gal?"

"Only 5 ma'am," Amanda suddenly felt bold,"Do you think they might come into the kitchen?"

"Why, Certainly," said Mistress Trippett and she swept off upstairs.

Cook's face was like stone. I'll not have those brats under my feet."

is You will if Mistress says so," said Ellie.

Cook struck at her with a spoon. Ellie jumped out of the way. Cook then shouted at Amanda," Don't stand there like a noddy. Fetch some water!" Amanda took up the water pail and ran. The pump was on the street, two doors down. She pumped the pail full. It was a heavy, wooden pail. Filled with water, it was as much as she could lift. Every few steps she had to put it down.

Someone came up beside her. "Amanda!" said the voice.

A man was there. He was dressed in black. His beard was gray, and there were little lines about his mouth that gave him a friendly look.

"Good- day, Dr Crider," she said.

"Child, you can't carry that." He tried to take the pail but she held on to it with both hands.

" Thank you, sir, but they wouldn't like it if you carried the water"

" Who wouldn't?"

"Cook and Mistress Trippett ."

"They needn't know."

"Mistress looks out the window. she might be looking now. Besides, it's my work."

"Why?"

" I'm taking Mother's place." Amanda carried the pail a few steps and set it down again."Are you here to see Mother?"

"Yes ," he said." How is she?"

"Better, I think. Today she looked brighter."

'Amanda, don't you have a father?"

"Oh ,Yes, he's in America In Jamestown"

"America. The new world That's an old dream of mine. If I were a youngman, I'd be there today."

" We are all going there my mother and brother and sister and I," She told him." We are going as soon as mum is Well."

"Are you, indeed?" he said. They had come to the house , and they parted there. He went to the front door, she to the back.

It was More than a week before she saw him again. Late one afternoon she thought she heard his voice in the hall. She asked Ellie," Is the doctor here...?" Ellie looked at Cook and neither spoke.

"I want to see him," Paid Amanda."May I go ?"

"Finish your work," said cook.

The kitchen began to grow dark. Amanda was lighting candles when Dr. Crider came into the room. He looked tired. The lines in his face were deeper.

"Amanda "he said.

"Yes, sir?"

"Will you come with me?"

She went with him into the hall. They were alone there.

" I must tell you something," he said. She looked into his face.

"Amanda, your mother is dead."

She stood still.

" I'm sorry," he said. I did what I could."

She felt as it she were choking. She put her hands on her mouth.

"Did you hear me child.?"

She nodded

" Do you want me to tell your brother and sister?"

She tried to speak but she couldn't.

He asked again,"Did you hear me?"

"Yes," She whispered.

"And shall I tell your brother and sister?"

She spoke then."No, sir. It's for me to tell them."