The gentle reinforcement was helpful, his large hand stroking her, petting her did much for her fear that he instilled. Merope drifted in and out of sleep, finding it difficult to stay awake, even when he spoke again. In her head, whether it was real or not, she wanted him to be Tom as his likeness had been exact. There had always been something about Tom, about this man that resembled him that made it easy for her to cope with her sudden loss.
After a few moments, her hand felt limp along with her arm and the rest of her body.