Around the hearth, Liuta, Gotho and little Rauthgundis are sitting with their spindles, quietly spinning yarn for weaving. Wachis is, as always, repairing something (it's a toy horse on wheels, actually) while some of the other kids are watching him, and Adalgoth is lounging on one of the bed-benches, with the two baby girls crawling around on him and beside him.

"I would get up and greet you," he says, "but I am doing duty as a rug at the moment, it seems."

None of those present are surprised or startled to see them any more, even though they are curious about Carlotta. The kids come to inspect her. There are three boys and three girls, all in all, counting Hilde but not the babies.