In which the arrival of Lucy’s aunt introduces a new anchor of support to the household, binding Wemyss and Lucy closer together as they navigate the sorrowful aftermath of a funeral surrounded by mourners and solemn rituals. Amid quiet confidences beneath the mulberry tree, Wemyss’s pragmatic insistence on finding courage in grief challenges the conventional patience of mourning, offering a comforting and unexpectedly robust presence in their shared adversity.