<div style="text-align: justify;">Manuela nodded when the Bishop invited her to take a walk at the garden. It felt much better than staying on her knees in a church she didn’t believe in, after all. “I do not mind, sir”, she replied to his comment on the stable help walking with them. It was actually good for her as well. The stable help would at least be able to vouch for her in case someone decided to start a rumor about the events of her meeting with the Bishop.<br/><br/>At first, Manuela walked in silence along the Bishop. Since he was the one who had invited her, the young woman expected the man to start the conversation. She fully expected Julian to ask her if she was really a witch, or assume that she was and tell her to change her ways. Maybe, she pondered, the man would ask her other questions as well. Manuela knew that a lot was at stake, but she planned on answering all the questions truthfully. For now, though, the silence was comforting. It was good to simply walk with someone who didn’t consider her the worst person in town without even knowing her. The Bishop’s question made Manuela think. Did she think he was power hungry? No. He could have simply been done with her when she was tied up and waiting to be burned to a crisp. <br/><br/>When the gardener told her that the Bishop wished to go to a private point, Manuela acquiesced. She wouldn’t mind that at all. To be honest, there was very little that bothered Manuela in her everyday life.<br/><br/>When the Bishop started speaking, Manuela naturally paid attention to what he had to say. She nodded quietly to herself when he spoke about all the talk there was in town. She was more than aware of that, as she was one of the main targets of all the talking. “Yes, indeed”, she replied. “I believe this to be quite common in smaller towns like our own”, Manuela continued, her voice calm. <br/><br/>“Everyone is indeed suspicious of everyone else”, the young woman carried on. “I believe it is to be expect. Most of the people here have no formal instruction, and I dare to say nearly all of them are illiterate. Perhaps it is to be expected that they fear what they do not know”, she pondered in a calm intonation. <br/><br/>After these words, Manuela fell silent and waited. She was very curious about what Julian would do. She did agree that the Bishops didn’t know the people. Why would they, after all? They were too emotionally far from the peasants to understand them. <br/><br/>Seeing the change in the Bishop’s garments, Manuela’s eyes went wide. She had not expected to see that. But it did make sense that he would not go around in his usual garments. “I spend most of my days at home, sir, so home it is”.<br/><br/>The young woman would invite Julian to walk with a gesture, and wait for him to follow. It would be made abundantly clear that Manuela was not particularly well liked. A few children greeted her, and were in turn greeted with affection, but none of the adults made a point of acknowledging her. While that did sadden the young woman, she didn’t seem at all surprised.<br/><br/>Once they reached her home, Manuela sighed in relief. “Please, do make yourself at home”, she said in an amiable intonation. “This is where I live. As you can see, I have a few chickens, used mostly for eggs. I do not really eat them, as I end up growing fond of the beasts”, she explained. After this, the woman pointed at a small enclosed part of the area. “This is where I plant my herbs. They have many uses - cooking, and several teas, to help you sleep well, or ease the pain of teething infants, or make one feel better when ill… the only herbs you will not see in here are those women use for a very sinful purpose”. The way Manuela spoke didn’t make it seem like she was justifying herself. Her intonation was firm, indicating that it was a matter of principle for her. “My mother taught me how to plant, care for and use all of them”, she explained, gesturing for Julian to follow her inside.</div><br/><br/><dl class="codebox"><dt> | <a href="javascript: void(0);" onclick="var spoiler = this.parentNode.parentNode.getElementsByTagName('dd')[0]; if ( spoiler.style.display == 'none' ) { spoiler.style.display = 'block'; this.innerHTML = '-'; } else { spoiler.style.display = 'none'; this.innerHTML = '+'; };">+</a></dt><dd style="display: none;"><div class="inline-attachment">
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