Baby Suggs came in and laughed at them, telling Sethe how strong the baby girl was, how smart,already crawling. Then she stooped to gather up the ball of rags that had been Sethe's clothes.
"Nothing worth saving in here," she said.
Sethe liked her eyes. "Wait," she called. "Look and see if there's something still knotted up in thepetticoat."
Baby Suggs inched the spoiled fabric through her fingers and came upon what felt like pebbles.She held them out toward Sethe. "Going away present?"
"Wedding present."
"Be nice if there was a groom to go with it." She gazed into her hand. "What you think happenedto him?"
"I don't know," said Sethe. "He wasn't where he said to meet him at. I had to get out. Had to."Sethe watched the drowsy eyes of the sucking girl for a moment then looked at Baby Suggs' face."He'll make it. If I made it, Halle sure can."
"Well, put these on. Maybe they'll light his way." Convinced her son was dead, she handed thestones to Sethe.
"I need holes in my ears."
"I'll do it," said Baby Suggs. "Soon's you up to it."
Sethe jingled the earrings for the pleasure of the crawling-already? girl, who reached for them overand over again.