[ Allelujah is taken aback for a fraction of a second, or at least as long as it takes for her to dissolve into laughter. ]

Your husband... [ That's a first, for him. He smiles like the tips of his ears might be burning — because they are. ] Well, if one experiences enough cruelty, I don't blame them for coming to see things that way. But I think it takes cruelty to appreciate those kindnesses, as well.

[ Just as so many things beget one another. Dark because of light, peace in times of war, love in spite of hate. ]

How would you respond to that, if I can ask?