The Midwife's Apprentice Chapters 8-13

First Day of Autumn

Sep 22, 1300

We need the rake, obviously.

Midwife's Apprentice Chapters 8-13

Period: Sep 22, 1300 to Dec 21, 1300

Alyce Delivers Tansy's Calves

Sep 29, 1300

Chapter 8, Page 32, "I am no midwife for cows, Will Russet," she called. "She needs your help, Alyce, and so do I." "Indeed I am no midwife at all, Will Russet, and I do not know what to do."

Alyce Learns to Sing

Oct 10, 1300

Chapter 8, Page 34, "All shiny they were, and sticky to touch, I did not even know them, but I loved them so much." And so it was that Alyce learned about making songs.

Alyce Scares the Boys Straight (to a fault)

Oct 16, 1300

Chapter 9, Page 35, "Touch that cat again," she shouted, "and I will unstop this bottle of rat's blood and viper's flesh and summon the Devil, who will change you into women, and henceforth each of you will giggle like a woman and wear dresses like a woman and give birth like a woman!"

Alyce Delivers the Bailiff's Wife's Baby

Oct 16, 1300

Chapter 9, Page 36: "Ha!" responded the midwife. "This child looks never to come out. You go in and wipe Joan's face and I will be back as soon as I can."

Alyce Secretly Studies Jane's Methods

Oct 24, 1300

Chapter 10, Page 39 "After this, when the midwife was summoned to attend a mother, Alyce took to stealing her way inside the woman's cottage, hiding in the shadows so as not to be noticed, watching closely to see what themidwife did and how and why."

Alyce Helps Edward

Nov 6, 1300

Chapter 10, Page 43: "Go," she said, "up the road to that manor. They are hiring boys to help with the threshing. Tell them Jane the Midwife sent you and bid them remember the good job she did delivering Lady Agnes' stubborn son. Now go."

Alyce Fails to Deliver Emma Blunt's Baby

Nov 13, 1300

Chapter 11, Page 45: "So as the day passed from morning to midday and Emma tossed on her tumbled linen and still there was no sign of a baby, Alyce, doubtful and uncertain without the midwife or at least Will Russet to tell her what to do and unwilling to get herself or Emma in trouble,stood back from the bed and said, "I cannot do this."

Alyce Runs Away with Purr

Nov 13, 1300

Chapter 11, Page 46, "Alyce backed out of the cottage, then turned and ran up the path to the road, she didn't know why or where. Behind her in the cottage was disappointment and failure."

Alyce Finds the Inn

Nov 15, 1300

Chapter 12, Page 48: "It was an inn. Alyce had never been in such a place, where anyone could find a bed or dinner provided he had the coins. Alyce did not have the coins, but she had two strong hands and an empty belly to fill, and she was soon at work in the kitchen, trading her labour for bread and a bed out of the rain."

Magister Reese Teaches Purr (and Alyce) to Read

Nov 26, 1300

Chapter 12, Page 50: "Or "This, cat, is a P, as in puss or pork or plum pudding." Or "The letter S must be made lust so, never thick or wiggly or with an extra curve at the end, but just so." "

Alyce Finds Will Again

Dec 8, 1300

Chapter 13, Page 54, " "And a prettier inn girl the world never saw," said Will, "or you would be if you ever got that dirt and flour off yer face. Come talk to me while I unload the cart."

Jane Comes to the Inn

Dec 13, 1300

Chapter 13, Page 56: "Before Magister Reese could say yea or nay, the midwife went on. "She was not as stupid as some I have had, and better company, but still perhaps her going was for the best. She was not what I needed."

First Day of Winter

Dec 22, 1300

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!