Polly's Glass of Water in the Church Vestry

Polly’s glass of water is poured by Longfoot as an alternative to the brandy, reflecting her cautious and adaptive nature. The water is a simple, clear liquid served in a basic glass, symbolizing the strained hospitality and the group’s need for clarity amid the growing tension. It is consumed by Polly and the others as they listen to Longfoot’s warnings, serving as a grounding element in an otherwise fraught exchange. The water is a practical choice, underscoring the group’s desire to keep their wits about them in a dangerous situation.

The glass of water Polly requests—and Longfoot provides—is a quiet but potent counterpoint to the brandy. Where the brandy symbolizes Longfoot’s attempt to assert dominance and 17th-century norms, the water represents Polly’s rejection of his authority and her pragmatic need for clarity. The act of drinking water in this tense moment grounds the scene in physical reality, contrasting with the supernatural dread of Avery’s spirit and Pike’s hook. The water also foreshadows the group’s later reliance on medical supplies (e.g., brandy as a disinfectant) in the inn, tying this object to their survival in this era.

The glass of water requested by Polly and poured by Longfoot serves as a practical and symbolic gesture in the vestry. Unlike the brandy, which is declined, the water represents a more neutral and acceptable form of refreshment for Polly, reflecting her modern preferences and her desire to maintain clarity amid the growing tension. The water is consumed quickly, underscoring the urgency of the moment and the group’s need to stay alert as Longfoot warns them about the rising tide and the dangers they face.

Polly’s glass of water is not explicitly mentioned in this event, but it is implied as part of the Squire’s order to Tom to fetch supplies for Ben. While Polly does not directly request water here (as she did earlier in the scene), the water is part of the medical aid being prepared for Ben’s wound. Its presence in the Squire’s command reflects the practical, if rudimentary, efforts to tend to Ben’s injury. However, like the brandy and cloth, the water’s role is secondary to the Squire’s interrogation, serving as a pretext to delay action on the Doctor’s kidnapping. The water symbolizes the tension between immediate humanitarian needs and the Squire’s bureaucratic priorities.