“I was alone with him, Marian⁠—his cruel hand was bruising my arm⁠—what could I do?”

“Is the mark on your arm still? Let me see it.”

“Why do you want to see it?”

“I want to see it, Laura, because our endurance must end, and our resistance must begin today. That mark is a weapon to strike him with. Let me see it now⁠—I may have to swear to it at some future time.”

“Oh, Marian, don’t look so⁠—don’t talk so! It doesn’t hurt me now!”

“Let me see it!”