* * * *
In the early hours of the morning, Christy’s mother lay on the cot in his attic, looking small and old. She had lost the baby she had been carrying. That was apparently what the argument had been about. Marchcouldn’t see why he should deny himself his conjugal rights and ignored the consequences. Well, the consequences were gone now, and the child that might have been his little brother or sister gone before they had chance to draw even the smallest breath. Christy’s eyes stung as he blinked back tears again. His mother didn’t cry. She just lay silent and still, one hand resting on her belly.