Alice came back in with her basin full of water. Her shoulders were drawn up, as if she was trying to make herself smaller. She shook her head. "It's no trouble, Elijah," she said very quietly. She added the water to the kettle and to the water basin in the kitchener, and took hot water from the tap in the bottom, gathered the cups that had been used for the prior meeting and began to wash up.

"Aye, I hope he will. Thanks for having him over, while... all of this is happening," Ben said.