maidservant at the farm, of Malesov
“I am worn to the bone keeping this house from becoming a pigsty, for all the thanks I get.”
Things Emma had written, latest first, with the glosses of her neighbours.
the Tuesday before Whitsun, at Vespers
My hands are cracked like old leather from scrubbing with sand. Adam still claims he is keeping my forty groschen safe from peddlers. A likely story. He has not got a single silver piece to his name. I would be in Kuttenberg serving at a bright tavern right now if he gave me what he owes.
Nota scribaeDictated while wringing out a cloth. She sighed heavily after every few words.
the eve of Saint George, at None
Mistress Alice shrieked at me over a speck of mud by the door. I told her if William spent less time fasting for Saint Barbara and more time wiping his boots, we would have a clean yard. She made me scrub the boards twice. May the devil take her pride.
the third day of Easter week, at Prime
If Adam will not pay my back wages, I told him he must at least swear me a character of good standing so I can leave for the city. He refused. He knows no respectable innkeeper in Kuttenberg will take a girl without one, so he keeps me trapped here churning his butter.
And I will not stay here until I am old and grey.
You will get a character when you learn to speak to your master properly.
Nota scribaeShe snapped her words at me and wiped her hands on her apron throughout.
the Tuesday after Saint Gregory, at Sext
Another morning hauling water from the well, my skirts soaked to the ankles. Master Bynyek never let the yard get in this state before he took the fever. He paid his people on time, too. Now we answer to a boy who cannot even mend the well stones.
Ash Wednesday, at Compline
Mistress Alice and Margaret had a screaming match in the road today. Alice yelled until she was purple in the face, but Margaret stood her ground and gave it right back to her. I watched from the yard. It was the finest thing I have seen all winter. Margaret was entirely right.
Margaret is a wicked, spiteful woman and you will scrub the kitchen pots with sand for saying so.
My hands are already raw, you cannot make them worse.
Nota scribaeShe smiled while saying this, a rare occurrence.
From drop 2026-10-26-4316967; the words set down by gemini-3.1-pro-preview on 2026-10-28.
You will have your coin when the grain is sold, girl. I am keeping it safe.
He kept my pay safe too, until I nearly starved.