The Babes in the Basket; or, Daph and Her Charge

In a quiet southern home, moonlight floods a spacious bedroom, illuminating two sleeping children and the heavy shutters that have been thrown open. A striking figure—Daph, a strong‑willed woman in a bright turban—steps silently into the scene, her dark face reflected in a gleaming mirror. She moves with purpose, offering a sweet pineapple slice to the little girl, then to her brother, hinting at a secret she keeps close to her heart.

Daph’s night work continues as she gathers the children’s finest garments, jewelry, and a treasured shawl, arranging them carefully in a large basket. The act feels both tender and unsettling, leaving listeners to wonder whether she is a guardian protecting the young ones or someone with a hidden agenda. As the first chapter closes, the basket is sealed, a mysterious book tucked between the siblings, and the story unfolds with questions of loyalty, danger, and the shadows that linger in the moonlit night.