mistress of number nineteen, of Kuttenberg
“I keep a respectable house and ensure everything runs exactly as it should. There is no room for foolishness here.”
Things Susanna had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Thursday before Whitsun, at Vespers
Simon is still brooding over the shaping adze Andrew borrowed. He refuses to shout over the boundary wall, but I know he means to march into that house to find it. I have told him to let it lie, but he will not listen. It keeps me waking.
Nota scribaeShe worried the small wooden cross at her neck the entire time she spoke, and her voice was very tight.
the third day of Easter week, at None
Sarah is moping about the hearth again instead of hauling water. I do not care what private sorrows a servant harbors so long as the floors are clean. Also, bread is dearer than last year, and the accounts will not balance if we feed idle hands.
Amen to that, Susanna. These maids think only of themselves and never the ledgers.
the Friday after St Gregory, at Sext
My son Joseph still wears a long face over that Constance girl. I sent her packing to Prague before Lent for good reason. A labourer's daughter has no place in this house. He is a fool to weep over it, and he will marry a proper woman in time.
You sent away the only joy in my life. I care nothing for your proper women.
the second Wednesday of Lent, at Terce
Spoke with Eva at the boundary wall this morning. We are good neighbours, and I must be polite to the baker's wife. But looking at her house makes my blood run cold for reasons I cannot say. I pray the Lord keeps my past buried.
I only meant that the Lord knows we are all sinners in our youth.
Nota scribaeShe asked to strike out the last sentence, then sighed and said to leave it.
the eve of Candlemas, at Prime
Andrew came over to borrow Simon's shaping adze for a baking trough. I wish he had not come. Seeing him at my door brings a sour taste to my mouth. I only hope he finishes his work and returns it quickly, so we need not speak of it again.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
A man does not simply surrender his best adze, wife. I will have it back.