Jenny found herself conflicted. She should tell Nat that they should forgive those who had sinned against them, but she couldn't. She too had hated and still sometimes hated the people who had been responsible for the mine that had collapsed on her father and brothers, and in those dark hours of the night, where she lay sobbing alone, she had wished terrible things on them. There had never been justice. And even then, in her family's case it had been death by negligence. In Nat's case, it had been slaughter. No, she could not reproach him for his words without condemning herself.

Instead, she ignored it, poked her food, and finally answered: "Stealing is wrong, but sinners can be forgiven. Ye 'ave to pray, and tell God yer sins and ask 'im to forgive ye." She quickly put some food in her mouth. Being a teacher was rather distracting.