"Shush!" she told the children fretfully. They didn't stop, but they also didn't cry loud enough to drown out the constable's insult. Her eyes narrowed on him. If she hadn't been holding her baby she would probably have trashed him - never mind about prison!

"Are ye jealous? How about you go harass another woman, eh?!" She turned to the privy with a wrinkled nose and shouted over the crying. "Hurry up, James! I'm going."

She strode away, even faster than before, past the priest, in the direction of her parents home. Little Sam couldn't keep up the pace, tripped over his own feet, let go of her hand and fell on the ground. He started crying even louder.