Julia has never gone on the slide before and Demelza watches her carefully, but Jamie is helpful, guiding her up the small flight of stairs and helping her slide down the small slope. The first time she had seen any playground equipment -- she'd read about it and now knows as much as anyone else might -- Demelza had wondered what had happened in this world to create such things.

"Do 'ee suppose it ever gets less troubling?" she asks as they sit on the bench. "Watching them go about things on their own? Julia's that independent already and I suppose she do come by it naturally, but it makes my heart feel tight every single time she wants to do something on her own."