He turned his face toward me, but his eyes did not meet mine. "There is hay to stack," he said, "I must return to the fields."
"But-"
"Madam, would you have me shirk my duties? If we are to eat this winter, the livestock must be fed."
"And what of your duty to your wife?" I said, and my voice carried in the sudden quiet.
There were only the grandmothers and Hamish and Eleanor remaining at the table; the other families took their noonday meal in their own houses, eating cold food before returning to their work, and Charles had left the table already. I glanced around, and felt my face grow stiff and cold. The grandmothers seemed unaware of the tension; but Hamish was staring at me. I dropped my eyes. I heard Robbie's breath go in and out.
"I must beg your leave, madam," he said; "Good afternoon," and he rose and strode from the room, the noise of his boots on the floor echoing loudly.
Rage flooded me; my bosom heaved with my breaths. I fought back tears and steadied myself, then I stood. Hamish stood. I curtsied to him and to the women, then turned and went slowly from the room.
I went down the path to the cabin, thinking that marriage to Robbie had not changed our association at all. He did not spend more time with me than before; he seemed to prefer work in the fields to my company; he slept elsewhere at night. And now I had no friends to keep me company; I had only Rabbit for my companion.
Rabbit helped me out of my gown, and I lay down for my afternoon rest. It was very hot; I lay on the bed in my chemise, the windows wide, unable to sleep.
I had never felt such loneliness.
____________________
One day after dinner, as I was going down the path to the cabin, Mary Ellen came running toward me from beyond the house. "We are going swimming," she whispered.
"Will you come with us?"
I looked at her; her freckled face and green eyes were bright and laughing. I felt my spirits lift a little. "Yes," I whispered back. "But where?"
"Come!" she said, taking my hand, and I followed her down the path, past the cabin, and through the wood.
At the bottom of a hill, we stepped into a glade where a waterfall tumbled into a beautiful pond. I caught my breath. The air there was deliciously cool; even the sunlight had a cool green cast, filtered as it was by the leaves of the trees. The sound of the splashing water was delightful; I looked around for Rabbit and she was there close behind me. She came and unfastened my gown without my saying a word; I fidgeted impatiently as she helped me out of it and when I stood in my chemise and looked around, perhaps a dozen girls had appeared. I felt a thrill of pleasure and excitement at the prospect of the cool water on my skin. They all chattered and laughed as they helped each other out of their clothes; I was about to dip my foot into the water when Mary Ellen stripped her chemise over her head and dived naked into the pond.