Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile, page 31
Yet I must wait for Lucetta
The crowds is too much for me
Brawling start a man cornobble another
Just then Lucetta come up
Her face flushd her lips lickd red
Her chest heave with all the fire of the place
Mary Ann she say
I think we must get Master Ned
Must tell him he is to come home
The situation here is perilous
I shake my head
Who am I to tell him how to behave
Tis well beyond me to take any hand to he
Well beyond her as well
Yet she do not think so
I should have stayd then I should have done
Yet I were weary and wiltd
I did not like the idea she had
But twas my business to protect her
There I fail her
For all I wantd to do was to get away
Such was the heat smell shouting
Bitter spit does rise in my mouth
So I depart and began to walk
Out to the hem of the town
Yet then who should I see
Down below me at the turn in the road
But Master Ned
Where can he be going
He turns away then into a chur
Leading down toward the Slad Brook
And the new Slad Road
How come he there
It seems to be he moves by magick
For he has not walkd pass me
Yet seeing him disappear there
A memory does come back to me
Of that showman as did produce
The rolling eye Devil
So he did have that look to me
This region no one do generally go
It being many gardens rent from Church House
Yet all being degectd soild and mould ridden
With sheds slipping and flaking
As they tip toward the Brook
I step out after he
Such pokey yards are here
All crowd and pooling with mud
I turn on again heading down hill
The mud slipping under my boots
The light from above cut out
By the low hang of branches
Stepping past a pile of brokd ends
As must be kept by some scavenger man
Sudden I come through a gate round a corner
I am close to he
I duck into a doorway
Many chicken feathers spread cross the floor
The winders coverd with boards
Broken spades and tools proppd gainst the wall
From here I can see but not be seed
For the door is shroude by a hood of ivy
See Master Ned standing still
Looking all about
His head raisd
As a hound does taste the scent
Takes a key from his pocket and approaches
A low door half burid underground
This building I do know is calld Little Mill
Round about is some others not usd in many years
Now sinking low and rotten
He turns the key in the lock disappears inside
I do not know I do not understand
So turn then and walk back toward
The main way as does lead me back home
The path not so flockd going back
Walking home a hollow feeling came on me
Yet I could not say why
Perhaps twas but the end of a giddie day
Much later Lucetta did come back
Master Ned with her
He straight to his room
So so I think
He must have gone back in the town
She did tell him made him come
This I thought did shew
The strength of her character
That she could bring him so to the right path
Usually she and I would have sat long
In the farm kitchen to talk of all
Yet she was weary and strangely quiet
Her eyes downcast shaking her head
Said nothing of Master Ned
The next day risen was Sunday
So come all to Ruscombe Chapel
Master Ned looking clay cheekd and stretchd
Eyes heavy and dull
I see him watching Lucetta all the time
The sermon echo back and forth
When lust hath conceivd it bring forth sin
And sin when tis finishd
Bring forth death
Then later Master Ned is takd abed
An ague is what he say
Tis always the same tale
I go up with water and he says
Mary Ann Mary Ann Will you not fetch Lucetta
This is how he always is
Why can Lucetta not bring this or that
Usually I say naught about it
Yet now I try my tongue say
You know right well
Lucetta does not work in this house
He then is sharp with me
You do what you is told say no more
So so I go and find Lucetta
Who is out in the garden
With that Conker from the cottage
Playing at hoblionkers
With some as left ovr from last year
I hope she will say no
Then I shall be provd gainst he
But she says Oh yes of course
She should not have gone
Yet she goes up to him
Is there a long time
The day hot and shivering still
Breath gather choking at the throat
A slight disturbance ripple all the air
Like a pan of water just afore he boil
I went out into the garden
Lookd long cross the Valley
Prayd she would come down
What had she to discuss with he
Found myself imagine what she might talk about
Clothes cling hot about me sweat bead my lip
I wantd to think of her and I did not
When she does come down she is brimming up
Hold her cheek with her hand shake her head
Mary Ann Mary Ann she say to me
First looking around to check that no one hear
You will never think I know not what to say
Master Ned did ask me to marry he
My eyes fall open wide my jaw slack
Course I knew he did find her fair
As nearly all men did
I knew two or three at the mill
Had been in to see Mr Birch Nazareth
To talk to him of marriage
Yet she wanted none of them
I do not blame her
I saw two of them
One with jug ears and rabbit teeth
The other shorter than her by six inch
She say I said no course
I cannot Course I cannot
Yet he was most pressing
It were v ockerd
Said he spokd afore to Mr Birch Nazareth
Yet he cannot have
For I would have been told
Master Ned tells me I am all
Can save him
He loves me true
Will become a new made man
If only I will give my heart to he
But no no I cannot do that
He is takd up in matters are not right
Our friendship course is of value
Yet it can no a ways be more than that
I had never thought of such a thing
It does vex me much
This I know Lucetta does say in deepest honesty
Yet I cannot help but think
That only she who has such an innocent heart
Could have faild to comprehend
She say I have said to he
I am glad to offer assistance
But no no How could he have so misunderstood
Perhaps I should consider myself lucky
To be made such an offer as this
Yet Mary Ann you must see
You do see I am sure
Yes I see Of course
You cannot marry he
No she says No I cannot
I v sorry for he takes it hard
I am not interestd in marriage
Even if I were
Oh dear oh dear she say
She is all put about
Though she has much courage
I see that she is fearful
She will be in trouble
For saying no to he
A girl like her should be grateful
For such an offer
Should take it without question
I am sure she says if I talk to my uncle
He will understand He knows how things stand
It may be he employ for Mr Harland Cottrell
Yet he has always talkd fair with he
So she takes several deep breaths
And is gone
I am so top full of excitement fear shame
I know not what to do with myself
Imagine such a thing he should ask her
That she should say no to he
Soon after Nettie come downstairs so I tell her
For I must tell someone
As I speak I realize is some evil in me
Is glad to see him so rejectd
For the first time he will not have what he want
He can bend so many others to his will
But not her
So he shall see
Nettie shake her head pull down her mouth
Tip back and forwards hands flapping
Scratching always at the raw patches on her neck
Oh Mary Ann say she
You evr see only the good
Think all be put straight so with no trouble
Come come girl
So you are a fool
Do you not see what trouble now will come
The supper is late
Get on now stoke the range up
Get the potaters in the pot
Look to it
So that I think were that
Tis a vexing moment for all
No more will be said
I were secretly happy
For now I thought she will stay away from he
Make sure nothing further is misunderstood
But oh it were not so
The talk start slow
Perhaps it were always there
But I being the side of the Valley never hear
The first is Lucetta come home one evening
All slabber the front of her dress is muck
I thought she must have fallen but no
She was not one to cry
Yet she was close to tears when she said
They threw this at me
At first I could not believe it
She did not say more
I took the dress and wipd it with a cloth
Then bang at it with a brush
Hung it out by the glowing coals
Ah so that the mill I think
It were evr a place of ruffians and scallywags
Yet soon after the rumours rattld more
The tongue can no man tame
Tis an unruly evil full of deadly poison
She has temptd him He not the first
That I think the jug ear man say
Her behaviour is not proper
He only ask to take what is already his
So seems Master Ned not the only one
Misunderstood and read a wrong many things
How easily kindness can be takd for more
This I did also know but she never see
Another evening Lucetta come home looking beat
Chalk white and teeth clenchd
Find me water Mary Ann she say
I find it for her
She stands hands grippd to the back of a chair
As though she might fall
Yet says naught of what has come to pass
I am hurt to see her so
No sooner has she gone
Into the kitchen comes Mr Harland Cottrell
As soon as Master Ned is back he say
You must send he to me
Oh yes Sir I say
Then I think Surely rumour has not travelld
As far as Mr Harland Cottrell
Gone up through his ear trumpet
He was anyway as I make clear
Able to hear some noise like a mouse shuffle
Though not a drum banging
Maybe tis best it should be so
If Master Ned has spread false report
He could do that with no doubt
Then soon his father will tell him enough
Master Ned not come back that eve
But the next when he steps through the door
I tell him he must go straightway
What will be said now
I must know
I must protect Lucetta
The winders of Mr Harland Cottrells study are open
I stand close outside the garden
My back flat gainst the wall
I cannot hear all but I listen close
So so say Mr Harland Cottrell
You are enterd upon relations
With this girl is Mr Birchs niece
Such as can only lead to marriage
Master Ned say v quick
Twas her Sir
That I can tell you
She did lead me into temptation
There is a long silence
I am breathing rough with shock
How he suggest such a dishonour
Can imagine how Mr Harland Cottrell considers
The question his head upon one side
As I seed so many times afore
Then he say
I have no interest in any account
How this came to be
The fact is since you are come to this pass
You must marry this girl
That is the case whether you want her or not
If you do not then her reputation is staind
That you must not have upon yr honour
Perhaps Master Ned then movd to say something
I do not know I could not hear
All I hear is Mr Harland Cottrells voice
Calm and slow and firm
There is no question of what you want
Or what affections there are
You may not leave her in a situation of dishonour
She may be but a mill worker
Again there is some disturbance in the room
A rustle a silence
Words I do not hear
Then again Mr Harland Cottrell say
You should have thought more careful
Afore you broke the laws of the Lord
You take now what comes to you
I have no doubt you and she
Can make something of yr situation
I hear some movement at the back of the house
Pray God tis not Nettie come to look for me
I turn from the winder back through the garden
My ears and heart burning
How can all be so mixd up and mismatchd
How can Mr Harland Cottrell think that
He offer Lucetta salvation
Through marriage to his son
My head is turning and turning
With the thought of it
Yet I have not reachd the door
Afore Lucetta comes
Pulls me in gainst the wall
We both stand there gasping for breath
Her eyes are wet her mouth set firm
When she can speak she say
Mr Birch Nazareth said I am to marry he
No I say No
Lucetta shakes her head wipes at her eyes
He says that I am compromisd
Tis said everywhere that he and I
We are already a marrid couple
In all but name
He said my reputation is brought low
No other man will have me
I must take him while I may
But who says these things I cry
I do not know she says
Master Ned it must be he
Yet others there are plenty
Who take up the hue and cry
Like hounds they are on a scent
Keening and baying repeating also
What they know is not true
I am weeping myself now
How can such things be said
How can she who is so pure and good
Be use so
I cannot say more for Nettie shouts
Mary Ann Mary Ann You lazy varmint
Where are you now
I must go I say
Afore I can move Lucetta
Catches hold my arm
Her fingers dug in deep my flesh
Her eyes are sparking sudden
Know this Mary Ann Know this
I will not marry he
I will not
I would rather die
Nettie shout Mary Ann Mary Ann
You lazy little worm get you here now
I step again toward the back door
