"What do you think this is?" Mr. Appleton snapped at Nat. "Some fine estate with lady's maids? Fine, so you had yer reasons to lie. But we've no need for another maid. We have Jenny. And you," he added, turning to Alice with all the cooped up anger climaxing, "You think only of yourself. You want to be looked after, but ye won't even go near yer own bairn. Ye refuse to leave yer room because yer too sick, and then ye go sneakin' around the house at night. Ye know what yer nonsense costs me already? Don't ye even think of making demands. Now go to yer room!"

Upstairs, the baby began to cry again.

Mrs. Appleton looked straight at her husband. She didn't stir, despite his orders, but her cold, sweaty hand wrapped around Nat's tightly.