s theirs,'' he says, nodding to the woman, the man. ''Their house, in the Borough.''
The Borough ... I have heard him say the name, once or twice before. I stand for a moment in silence, thinking back across his
words; then my heart drops. ''Sue''s house,'' I say. ''Sue''s house, of thieves.''
''Honest thieves,'' says the woman, creeping closer, ''to those that know us!''
I think: Sue''s aunt! I was sorry for her, once. Now I turn and almost spit at her. ''Will you keep from me, you witch?'' The kitchen grows silent. It seems darker, too, and close. I still have Richard gripped by the waistcoat. When he tries to pull away, I hold him tighter. My thoughts are leaping, fast as hares. I think, He has married me, and has brought me here, as a place to be rid of me. He means to keep my money for himself. He means to give them some trifling share for the killing of me, and Sue—even in the midst of my shock and confusion, my heart drops again, as I think it—Sue they will free. Sue knows it all.
''You shan''t do it!'' I say, my voice rising. ''You think I don''t know what you mean to do? All of you? What trick?''
''You don''t know anything, Maud,'' he answers. He tries to draw my hands from his coat. I will not let him. I think, if he does that, they will certainly kill me. For a second we struggle. Then: ''The stitching, Maud!'' he says. He plucks my fingers free. I catch at his arm instead.