On New Year's Eve Molly set out through the snow to the Red House, carrying her child, to shame Godfrey in front of everyone at the Squire's party. She took a dose of opium to keep off the cold, and she lay down in the snow near the stone-pit and fell asleep. The child woke, crawled out of her arms, and toddled towards a light that came from an open door. Silas was standing in the doorway, in one of his fits, and he did not see her pass him. When he came to himself he saw something golden on the floor in front of his hearth. His heart beat violently. He thought his gold had come back. He stretched out his hand, and instead of hard coins his fingers touched soft, warm curls. It was a sleeping child.