Summary

Chapter 13, “Devil’s-bit scabious,” brought the start of spring during which Mary left the cabin to gather grasses for St. Brigid’s Eve. When she returned, she brought Micheál outside with her to get fresh air. He enjoyed it, and when Mary played with him, Nóra disapproved. She claimed Mary should fear the fairy itself more than for its well-being. The next morning, the cross Mary made blew off the wall, and both women were uneasy with the omen. Áine finally visited Nance to cure her chest, but Nance sensed the physical discomfort came from her emotional struggle with her barrenness. Her husband’s family was beginning to blame their poor crop yield on her infertility, for example. Nance prescribed distilled lady’s mantle and tansy leaf tea among other rituals as a fertility treatment. She knew she no longer had the...