The crying slowed. She was hesitant at first but handed over the fussy baby who probably needed a new nappy, which she began to dig for because instinct told her to do so. A wet spot had formed on her sweater. "I need ta..." she indicated the baby's bottom with a shuddering sigh. "I am sorry," she went on to say, took the baby back and quickly changed her cloth diaper. The fuss ended and Niamh went back to sleep within moments. There was no situating herself, she was just handing the one baby over again when Harold Jr. began to fuss too. It was clear that she was frustrated. She made quick work of situating the boy's nappy, and then had him in his basket. By the end of all that, she was shaking.

The poor thing was so tired that it was easy to tell why she was not in her right mind at the moment, aside from getting jilted. "I told me brother I did not want to be alone but he left me alone anyways to go out and do his stupid work..." And yes, she meant stupid, for Pony sold snake oil. "He travels a lot as a salesman," she said politely.

As far as being offered a place to stay, she hesitated for a moment and then nodded, "It would do well fer me to get out of town proper I suppose. Perhaps the gossip will have a chance to die down." After all, she thought, the curtains had been left wide open and anyone could have seen the affair she had carried on with the clockmaker. Lord, but she was mortified with her own behavior.