“You’re ter of t it made no difference. S anyone old me about men  ing to touc tion of ing to touco o make  be easy in my mind about it, though.

    Sometimes from an upstairs cogeted by  s to urned o ans o ray lock of   t made me t mind it if ouch her.

    But  seen and continued his work.

    t morning chen. I broke our usual silence.

    ‘Don’t toucold him.

    touched Emmeline.”

    ‘Good. ell, don’t.“

    I t t . e botook anottes and I prepared to lapse back into silence, but after ex  to touch Emmeline.”

    I   curious little intonation. I  .

    I took a drag of my cigarette and didn’t look at  look at him.

    ‘Shan you are,“ he said.

    My cigarette  even  I stubbed it out. I strode to tc open.

    In tood stiffly, staring straig ttons on .

    his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed. his voice was a murmur. “Be kind, Adeline.”

    Stung to anger I lifted my eyes up, meaning to fire daggers at  I artled by tenderness in  I was… confused.

    ook advantage. Raised  to stroke my cheek.

    But I , lashed his hand away.

    I didn’t

    ed.

    And then he was gone.

    tcy after t. the boy was gone.

    ‘I’ll  it was impossible. how could a boy like him help me? how could anybody help me?

    t o my s aufts t clung to Miss inter’s scalp were pure we.

    I took toray bits of he back of her neck.

    ‘Give me ter said.

    I h her hair shorn, she looked like a grizzled child.