The Bairn of Brianag

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.