"The woman will bathe her when she gets here. Pray for her and her children in the meantime." It took time for the work to be done. The woman came and was given money to stay with Karen to watch for fever and help tend to the children before the doctor left to get back to his rounds. He paused to say, "I think she is decent enough for you to sit with her and the woman. It might bring her comfort."

In the meantime, Karen was sitting up with the covers up over her still-rounded belly, looking down almost blankly at the boy who was propped up by her thighs, while the little girl lay in the cradle next to the bed.