Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I'll let you know if I ever own anything. As of right now, they all still belong to Elizabeth George Speare.

A/N: Hi, everybody! I just wanted to say thanks to all my reviewers for the last two chapters. I love getting reviews and you guys made my day. Thanks so much. And now, I shall be continuing on.

Another A/N: Okay, well, this is not the Chapter 4 I wrote about in the last chapter, but that chapter will be up later. This is a new chapter 4! I hope you like it.

Kit was sitting in Hannah's hut two days after Nat had left her with that cryptic message. Prudence had been there an hour ago, but Kit had missed her. The little girl could only stay for short periods of time and she could rarely escape at the same time as her teacher. But Hannah was always home to help her. The old woman and Kit often spent their afternoons together talking about the extraordinary child.

But Prudence was not the subject of their conversation today. Today, their talk revolved around Nat. He had said farewell to Hannah before meeting Kit. Kit told Hannah all about Nat's message to her. She even asked her friend the meaning of his parting words. "And then he said, 'Don't marry him, Kit," and walked away. What does that mean, Hannah?"

Hannah looked at the young girl sitting across from her with eyes that had seen many years, years full or joy and despair. This girl was so innocent, so naïve. She really does not know, Hannah thought, watching as the subject of her thoughts toyed with a small piece of coral that Nat had brought her.

"My dear child, Nat means that he does not believe that William is the right man for thee to marry," said Hannah gently. She was not going to tell Kit who Nat thought was the right man.

"But how does he know, Hannah? He has never even met William except for those few seconds when he walked me home," Kit argued.

"Kit, I am sure Nat saw how thee was with William and that is where his comment came from."

"B-B-But-"

"Do thee love him?" Hannah asked.

"Of course I do not love him, Hannah. He is always so rude to me – always mocking and torturing. How could I love him?" said Kit.

"I meant William, not Nat," said Hannah gently.

"Oh," Kit flushed. "Well, no, not really. But he is fond of me and I know he will be good to me if I marry him. He does not expect me to be useful around the house either. I won't have to do any of the things I hate. And it may be the only way for me to escape my uncle's house," Kit continued, with a feeling of having had this conversation before.

"Bless thee, child! Yes, perhaps, 'tis the answer. But 'tis never really an escape unless love is there."

Kit became silent, gazing down at the coral she was fingering without really seeing it. Neither Hannah nor Nat wants me to marry William, thought Kit. But how will I be able to leave otherwise? I must marry to do so. But I doubt anyone in Wethersfield would want to marry me because of my strange ways. If I don't marry William, who would I marry?

Kit was still playing with the coral that Nat brought Hannah. Hannah could read Kit's thoughts on the girl's troubled face. She also knew that Kit was looking at the answer in her hand. But she did not say anything. The truth was for Kit to discover on her own.

A/N: Well, like I said, this wasn't the "right" Chapter 4, so the original one should be up soon, because I already wrote it, unless I can think of another way to put it off! Just kidding. Sort of. Anyway, I hope you liked what I've written so far. And please review. If you could take a couple of seconds just to tell me whether or not you like my story, I would be, oh, so happy. Please just click on that box down there in the corner. And now, I must leave. Homework calls.

Author's Note: Haha, I did it! I updated very quickly. Not that it's much of an achievement considering I wrote this already and am just editing, but still. I did it! Thanks to all my reviewers. You make my day. I'm so excited. Spring break is three days away and then no more school for 11 days! I'm going to have to go see the colleges I was admitted to and make a final choice by May 1. Eek. Although I'm already pretty sure where I'll be going. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and please keep leaving them. I'll be forever in your debt!