Alice peered at the woman with narrow mistrusting eyes as she defended herself and explained her meaning, her body language showing that she believed little of what she was told. But then when Mrs. Carpenter got up and simply took her leave, she scowled. Tobias would always argue back. He'd shout, he'd threaten, he'd order her to her room when she'd still leave it, he'd take things away to punish her. He'd always react. Jenny would beg and crawl or tell her she'd have to inform Mr. Appleton.

Nobody just walked away. Alice felt both offended and - to her own surprise and frustration - a little remorseful.

Yet she did not call out to stop the woman. Instead, she lay back, curled up on her side and pulled the blanket over her head.

She'd soon die tragically anyway.