His words comforted her - for a moment. Her shoulders relaxed. Her grip on his arm eased. And then he told her about the fever...

How could she not tell ma? Her brother had nearly died! Oh, ma would lock him up in his old room and never let him out again until he was too old to be sent to Egypt, if she knew! And Kate would help guard the prisoner.

"Well, I 'ope ye mean it!" she lectured him. "Don't ye ever be puttin' yer life in danger again like that. Ma would never recover, and neither would I, and I think dad would feel guilty for the rest of his life for ye two not partin' peacefully."

She finally let go of his arm and picked up her fork to eat a little of her food, but it had gone cold and John's revelation sat heavy on her stomach.