By the time I'd found out all this, her baby was quite quiet, and ready to go to sleep.

I gave it her back.

She said nothing, but took and kissed my hand, her lips feeling like burning coals on my flesh.

'You're kindly welcome,' says I, a little flustered at such a queer way of thanking me.

'Just wait a bit while I speak to my husband.' Though she'd been and done wrong, I couldn't for the life of me help pitying her, for her fierce ways.