In this story, the female character who is a countrymaid, finds a baby on the ground wrapped in a blanket. Throughout the story, she takes a lot of pride in caring and spending time with this baby whom she names Rose. I think she was so enthused about Rose because her previous experiences with pregnancy have resulted in miscarriages. Though Rose was dead, she was an actual baby, a being that could be held. Being able to feel this baby caused the maid to lose her grasp on reality and live in a fantasy world. In this fantasy world, Rose could be the daughter. "Little Rose, my child" she says. She knows Rose is quiet and doesn't cry, but then tries to justify this by saying Rose is simply a good baby. For once, this maid could have her daughter and could use the clothes that she had made for her previous 'hopes'.
At the end of the story, the gardener confronts her about the corpse she has been showing affection to over the past few days and thinks that she "kills children who haven't even had time to earn their soul". However, I think that the maid views this situation as somewhat of her own family picture: the gardener, Rose, and her.
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