I opened the front door, after hearing knocking, to find the handsome captain on the other side. I felt my cheeks reddening but I still smiled. I looked at his shiny boots and his uniform that fitted him so well, tightly on his entire body. Oh, he was handsome. I took him to my uncle’s private room. So small, it was more like a cupboard, two chairs just fitted. The captain thanked me politely. I knew he had come about a warrant for Tituba’s arrest. I could imagine my uncle and him sitting eyeball to eyeball. I listened at the door but could hear nothing.

I went outside to see Betty with Tituba coming from the garden with spinach, potatoes and squash filling their crossed arms. Betty’s face did not appear as sweet as usual. A look of forlorn wrapped her. I understood why. She felt that she was losing Tituba. I felt sorry for her for a second. She had no escape like me. I could take a horse into the forest. She was stuck here.

Tituba left with the captain. Betty sobbed. I waved Tituba goodbye. I went back to our room where I thought about things. Well, Ann was not going to outdo me in accusations. How I hated this village along with the dour people in it. It was just too boring. At least, things would get more exciting now. Betty walked into the parlour glaring at me. I knew not what was to follow. Betty would not have this out with me in our tiny bedroom with its lace and daisies, I knew. She would choose a spot by the river near the grist mill where corn was once ground, now silent.

‘Let’s go out for a walk,’ said Betty. She didn’t go out for walks unless she had to. The wind slapped my face, as I looked into the trees for squirrels.

‘Your eyes dance like early butterflies,’ said Betty, ‘but is your heart as beautiful?’

Her face became moody. She suddenly stopped.

‘How could you?’

‘What are you talking about?’ I said putting my hands on my hips.

Betty started to beat me on my back in a rhythm with her small fists. ‘You condemned Tituba. I will never forgive you for that.’

‘I did not and stop hitting me.’

‘You did. She will die because of you … they will hang her.’ Betty was now screaming.

I threw off Betty’s hands and took her by the shoulders, shaking her. ‘Betty, take hold of yourself.’

‘You’re hurting me.’ Betty’s eyes were aflame.

‘I was not the only one to condemn Tituba. All the girls did, especially Ann.’

‘But you were the first.’

‘That is a lie. Besides, the silence of those two weeks had to be broken. We couldn’t keep on like that. And if you remember correctly, Betty, it was your own father who suggested Tituba’s name first.’

Betty looked injured like a young bird dropped from the nest.

‘Tituba will not hang. It was Ann Putman who condemned her. How I hate her for letting out our secret with Tituba.’ I put my arms around Betty but she became again agitated.

‘Tituba will die. For that I will never forgive you. When she does I will tell my father about the man you meet.’

‘Don’t you ever dare!’ I wanted to strangle her. Breathing heavily, I stopped and thought that I could not make an enemy of Betty. I smiled at her and said, ‘She will not die. Do you think your father is going to pay for her board in prison? He will sell her.’

‘You are so harsh. That is not a nice thing to say about my dear father.’

Oh, how Betty was upsetting me. ‘Do you want me to tell you a bedtime tale? Life is life. Your father will sell Tituba.’

‘He won’t.’

‘But he will not see Tituba die; he will sell her.’

‘But others will die.’

‘We don’t know that.’