Summary

Chapter 11, “Foxglove,” begins with gossip about Brigid’s tragic labor. They searched for reasons why she failed to protect her unborn baby, like attending Martin’s funeral, or not visiting the blacksmith to “’blow the bellows’” (206). The women at the well asked Mary about Micheál, and she revealed that Nance was helping them. When Kate arrived, she accused Nance of killing Brigid’s unborn baby intentionally with the prescribed bittersweet for her sleepwalking. She suggested that Nance was causing illness to create opportunities to earn her living. Mary discussed the rumors with Nóra, fearful that Nance was not trustworthy, which Nóra disregarded.

Nóra disliked that Mary treated the boy tenderly as though he were not a fairy changeling, but in a moment of sympathy for Mary’s sadness, Nóra gifted her Johanna’s childhood comb. They brought Micheál...