"No ma'ma Pearl has not been mean to me -" Olivia paused unsure how to proceed. Could she repeat everything her sister had just told her? Would the fledgling mustard seed of new sisterhood survive this first stern test? Or would Olivia fold and tell all to her mother.

In spirit, her mother would be inclined to believe Olivia's word more than if those very same words came out of say, Pearl's mouth, yet given the gravity of what Pearl had just said, the older woman probably wouldn't believe Olivia either.

"It's nothing really. The maid spilt some ashes from the fireplace and some of them must have gotten in my eye."