THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND - CSIR

facing her, so totally different from her grandfather, Kit sensed the same quality of directness, and out of an instinctive
respect she gave the only honest answer she could.
"I did not dare to write," she said. "I was afraid that you might not tell me to come, and I had to come."
Rachel leaned forward to put a hand on Kit's arm.
"We would not have refused you if you were in need," said her uncle. "But a step like this should not be taken without due
pondering."
"Matthew," protested Rachel timidly, "what is there to ponder? We are the only family she has. Let us talk about it later. Now
Katherine is tired, and your work has been delayed already."
Matthew Wood drew up a chair and sat down heavily. "The work will have to wait," he said. "It is best that we understand
this matter at once. How did you come to set sail all alone?"
"There was a ship in the harbor and they said it was from Connecticut. I should have sent a letter, I know, but it might have
been months before another ship came. So instead of writing I decided to come myself."
"You mean that, just on an impulse, you left your rightful home and sailed halfway across the world'!"
"No, it was not an impulse exactly. You see, I really had no home to leave."
"What of your grandfather's estate? I always understood he was a wealthy man."
"I suppose he was wealthy, once. But he had not been well for a long time. I think for years he was not able to manage the
plantation, but no one realized it. He left everything more and more to the overseer, a man named Bryant. Last winter Bryant
sold off the whole crop and then disappeared. Probably he sailed back to England on the trading ship. Grandfather couldn't
believe it. After that he was never really well. The other plantation owners were his friends. Nobody ever pressed him, but
after he died there just seemed to be debts everywhere, wherever I turned."
"Did you pay them?"
"Yes, every one of them. All the land had to be sold, and the house and the slaves, and all the furniture from England. There