“Master send you some supper,” the servant mumbled. “Bread and coffee.”
“I don’t want them!”
“Better you eat and drink,” Julia admonished. “But do not sleep. This room is evil—evil!”
“You’re telling me!” retorted Rhoda, lapsing into slang. “All I want is to get out of here. Julia, let me free and I’ll pay you well! I’ll give you anything you want!”
“No key.”
“But you know where it is kept?”
“The master keep keys on him always.”
“He would! Can’t you trick him or something?” Seeing the old woman’s blank stare, Rhoda sighed and answered her own question. “No, it’s too much to expect. But maybe you could slip away from here and bring help—”
“Master never let me out of the house. My place is in the kitchen. I must go there now—to the kitchen.”
“Wait!” Rhoda checked her. “You say Father Benedict sent some food? On second thought, I’ll take it. He may not give me anything again for a long while. I expect to be out of here soon, but something could go wrong.”