[CW: This threads contains hints of child (emotional) abuse and domestic violence]


After her father had shouted at her, Anne had gone up to the East Cliff and had sat there for a long time, crying to herself and wondering what to do. How could she go home now? She didn't know if her father was done, and she was too ashamed, and there was still the events of earlier this morning that she would get sacked for, and then her father would find out about that too, and she was too ashamed to handle that. She thought of running away to Robin Hood's Bay. But surely her family would send her back. Anyway, she didn't know them that well. 

Then she went to the station and lingered there for a long time. She was desperate to take the train to Castleton and see Alice. They hadn't let her see her sister and the baby yet, as Alice was too ill and needed rest, but Anne had half a mind to go anyway. She needed Alice, as she was sure Alice needed her. They could run away together with the baby!

But Anne had no money for the train and she was afraid to get arrested. And so finally her feet had led her back to Oswy street. She didn't know what to tell Mrs. Blacke and felt rather ashamed now. Had Mrs. Blacke asked for the money back? Had she regretted buying her that corset? Oh, her father was right, she ought to be ashamed!

And yet there was nowhere else to go. The thought of going home made her shrink, and so she knocked on the Blackes's door.