[It's such a relief to see Marianne safe. Ethlyn herself has been bitterly regretting her inability to save Claude--if she had been able to get to Miller just a minute sooner, it wouldn't have happened. Claude returned, as people do here, but Ethlyn knows too well that it's not an experience that can just be brushed under the rug.

But Marianne was safe, and it was over, and at least for today they can sit and take a desperately-needed rest from it all.]

I'm so glad you are, too. [She wraps her hands around her teacup. It may be summer, but she needs its comforting warmth.] How are you feeling? Maybe it's only because it's so recent, but... that was one of the worst things to have happened here.