Malcolm's problems ran so much deeper than being stuck and having the heebie jeebies, though they were a factor in his edginess.

"You'll want to do that before nightfall," he told her matter-of-factly. "But if you want to take your time deciding, there are rooms at the boarding house still," he said pointing towards the window and, through it, the street. "You can stay there, or you can stay there until you decide if you want to take one of the empty houses. You might even make some friends and decide there's safety in numbers and take a house together."