Ruth followed him to the bedroom. She put Lucy down and then she looked at him gently. Aye he was nice to her. He was one of the few men who had ever been nice to her - consistently nice, that was. Look at this! He had her alone in a bedroom and he hadn't yet thrown himself on top of her.

She watched him keenly, wistfully almost. "Don't worry about t' sheets. We've slept in dirtier places." She hesitated then she stepped towards him and put her hand on his arm. "And aye, you are nice to me. Ye always 'ave been. Yer more perfect than most men. The offer still stands, ye know. I mean, not marryin' me, I get ye don't want me. But just t' sleepin'." She rubber her thumb over his arm. "So ye don't have to be alone..."

So that she wouldn't have to be alone. She was always alone.

"I won't be bothered by yer scars. If me face won't bother ye."