Chapter 4, The Miller's Wife Summary

Summer arrives in the village and with it a strange abundance of bread. Beetle does not know from where the bread has come and does not care, since the midwife shares it with the girl. After a while, Beetle begins to grow curious, because Jane makes excuses to leave the house for various chores, but never takes the items she claims she needs to deliver. Beetle follows Jane at times, but cannot gather the courage to find out what the midwife is up to.

An opportunity presents itself when Beetle has to deliver a balm to a woman at the manor dairy. Beetle makes the delivery and collects payment, then hurries to a tree near the field where the midwife often goes and climbs it. Within moments, Jane appears, as does the baker and the two hug...