They buried Lady Mildrethe in the churchyard. Lord Ædmunde led his mother and sisters, as well as Lady Mildrethe"s mother, father and siblings, to the graveside. After Father Ædgar performed the rites and sent Lady Mildrethe"s soul on its way to Heaven, the mourners returned to the Hall.
Helgha watched with the rest of the villagers. Although Lady Mildrethe had not lived among them for long, she had become well-liked, and the faces of the villagers were downcast. They bowed as a solemn-faced Lord Ædmunde passed them.
Everyone in the village went about their work in almost complete silence for several days. Lord Ædmunde isolated himself in the Hall and neglected his duties.
With the arrival of summer, Helgha took her little herd of pigs into the forest to forage. Her sow had given birth
