Anne worried that she had offended Mrs. Blacke in refusing the gift, but the woman jumped right back in, promising to give her something else. 'Sort-of-daughter', she said. A wave of warmth and gratitude washed over her. "Ye really think of me as yer daughter?"

It didn't matter that it wasn't the first time Mrs. Blacke had said something of the sort. She needed to hear it again.