What in the world had possessed her to climb 199 steps? Nesah cursed herself. She was out of breath, her corset not allowing her to fully expand her belly. It was self-torture. That was what it was. She was so bored and miserable that she had now turned to self-torture to feel somewhat alive. Nesah was certain that was it. She had snapped at last. Of course she had. She knew it was going to happen. Hadn't she told herself she would?

Perhaps it was because another university had denied her application to take the entrance exam. She had had several such rejections now. All the others would refuse her as well, Nesah thought gloomily, as she caught her breath at last and started walking towards the Abbey. And then she would be forced to either depend on her brother's charity forever, or go home and marry some idiot.

So yes! Actually! Climbing 199 steps was almost pleasant when placed in perspective!

Nesah reached the Abbey and walked around under its arches. She wore a green dress, a brown coat, lined with fur, and a large hat. The coat was rather warm, considering that the weather was gentle today and she had just had a climb. But here on the cliff the winds could be cold and Nesah knew that if she would take it off, she could soon come to regret it.

Suddenly, she spotted the artist from the corner of her eye, stopped, and looked over. He was clearly preparing to paint the Abbey, and she was probably in the way. Nesah put her gloved hands in the pockets of her coat and continued walking around there, right in the man's view. If she was having a bad day, everybody was going to have a bad day.