Anne smiled shyly at that. "Ye'r welcome," she said very softly.

He was actually very nice. For one, he talked to her, a fisherlass. And furthermore, he was actually appreciative of what she did. Or should she be suspicious now? She didn't want to be. It was nice having someone be nice to her. Her brothers were always taunting her or not listening to her. Her father could be nice, but could also be terrifying, and she never knew which side of him she would encounter on a given day. She was friends with some of the fisherlasses but they could also say hurtful things, like "Oh Anne how brave of you not to wear a corset," when she was wearing a corset and then laugh, or whisper and giggle in a way that made her feel insecure. And those outside of her community seemed to see her people either as dirty and lowly or as some fascinating species in the zoo. Kate and Mrs. Blacke were nice to her, but she wasn't allowed to speak to them anymore. So yes, actually she rather enjoyed this man's kindness.

"What do ye do, ser?" Was that impertinent? But he had started the conversation.