"I know, I know, but... I don't think I've e'er felt as angry as I do now. How could a man be like that? How could he string hearts along on a strand like a pearl necklace?" Speaking of Pearl, she had come to peek in to see what the commotion was. Jacob was whining from the noise of the wall punching. She overheard Lottie speak of the doctor and said, "I would be happy to fetch the doctor, would you like for me to take Jacob with me so you can continue to talk?" Ruth gave a half nod and aighed. Pearl went to ready the boy for the short journey and would be gone within the next several minutes with the bubbly child still in her arms.

"I don't know what ta do now..." Marry, she thought sarcastically... and then the picture of Edward's face filled her mind and she was distracted for a moment. His face seemed to calm her, she seemed to relax. She said softly, "I just feel at a loss, ma..."