He no sooner lay back down again than there was a light knock on the door.
Deciding to head her off this time, now knowing how persistent she could be, he got up and went to the door, to prevent her entering.
It was Malina.
‘What the hell!’ he blurted. ‘Why are you crying-’
‘I can’t sleep,’ she said. ‘They’re so mean to me. They call me bad names-’
‘What are you talking about? Who are they?’
‘The ones who come to my room, and bang on the door, or yell at me if I don’t open it.’ she said. ‘They tell me to leave, to go away from Mirrindale-’
‘Who?’
‘People here,’ she said, as though what she meant were obvious.
‘Which people?’
‘Those women, those wives of Merchants, and-’
Ralph felt a sudden surge of anger, but instead of saying anything, took Malina by the arm and drew her into the room.
‘C’mon,’ he said, drawing her towards his mussed up bed. ‘I wasn’t getting any sleep anyway. You lie down and get some sleep, and I’ll watch over you. Will that be okay?’