She was going mad. It was a verdict that they took great care in announcing, delicately choosing their words to lessen the blow. They spoke it almost inaudibly, shifting their feet and wringing their hands as they avoided her gaze.

Her laughter jolted their heads back up and all eyes were on the howling maiden, barely able to contain herself as the chuckles turned into cackles that mated with ringing giggles.

“Going? Going and already gone. Out on holiday, spurred to walk-about, completely buggers! And you’re telling me this now? You silly people.”

They were taken aback and took another step and another until their backs hit the wall and the first of them spoke up in defense.

“Well,” he said, “it seemed important that you should know.”