"One of the daughters," she said, "Told her ma that one of us maids got soot in her eye and I was blamed fer it. But I wasn't anywhere near her ta get soot in her eye, mum. I would ne'er do such a thing, I swear on me husband's grave, I do." She lifted her palms upward, "I wasn't the one ta bring the logs up. I was the one who went to market and helped in the kitchen."