Joy lay on the cot for two weeks, coughing and feverish. She had many nightmares of her past. She was ashamed that she had to rely on Mr. Todd and Mrs. Lovett. Finally, on the Tuesday of the third week, she felt better than she had throughout her sickness. She sat up and looked around. Mr. Todd was asleep in the barber chair and Mrs. Lovett was, presumably, downstairs making pies. Joy stood up quietly and tiptoed downstairs to find Nellie. She found herself in the kitchen area, but to her dismay, did not see Mrs. Lovett. She rapped her fingers on the wall, thrice, to try and get her attention. Mrs. Lovett did not appear for a long while. When she was finally able to get her attention, Nellie came out of a room, dressed in her nightgown, rubbing her eyes.

"Wot time is it dear?" Mrs. Lovett asked and looked out the window. "It can't be after three in the morning! And what are you doing up?"

"Sorry, mum." Joy mouthed.

"Oh, no matter, love. 'Ow about a drop of ale, eh? Or something to eat?" Nellie asked. Joy nodded gratefully. "Sit down, make yourself comfortable." Nellie motioned to a chair and watched her to make sure she sat. "Now, I have some bread and butter, but, I do not think I have anything else because I have not been to the market lately. I'll have to go tomorrow…well, today, when it turns light outside…" Nellie babbled on and on about bread and the marketplace and other things that Joy was half listening to, when Joy suddenly realized that somehow, she should repay the two for taking her in. She knocked on the table and Nellie stopped chattering abruptly.

"What is it, love?" she asked.

"I can go to the marketplace for you, Nellie." she mouthed, but she had to repeat herself a few times because Eleanor could not completely tell what she was saying.

"Oh, dear, that's not necessary, I'll go. You're still recovering." Nellie smiled, although she was tempted to let her go.

Joy was quite a stubborn girl when she had her mind set on something. She stomped her foot and shook her head and frowned, as if to say, "I'm going, and don't you dare try to persuade me otherwise."

"All right, dear, I'll let you go." Eleanor put up her hands defensively then took the bread and a glass of ale to Joy's table.

"How old are you, love?" she asked.

Joy held up a two and a one with her fingers.

"Twenty-one?" Nellie asked. Joy nodded and took a bite of the bread. She smiled gratefully.

"You're welcome, love." They sat in silence for a while. Joy ate quietly. When she was finished she took a sip of ale and grimaced at its sour taste.

"Sorry, love, times is hard." She said. "Tomorrow we can look for better ale." Joy looked at Mrs. Lovett curiously.

"Did you think I would let you go by yourself when you're only just getting better? No, maybe later, but today I will go with you. Now, go back to bed. I'll let you borrow something to wear later today, and then when we go to the marketplace you can buy something better to your liking, yes?"

"Thank you." Joy mouthed.

"Oh, you're welcome dear, now off to bed you go." Mrs. Lovett patted Joy's back and watched as Joy quickly tiptoed up the stairs. She got back on her cot and quickly fell asleep.