In the spring of the new year, Theobald and Githa Selle were delighted by the birth of a daughter, little Athelis. Since he was the baby of his family, Theobald never spent much time with children, and so he felt a bit awkward around the little thing and was afraid he might hurt her with his big hands. His greatest fear was that he would find himself alone with her when she needed her diaper changed, and he would have to do it himself. Githa told him he was just being silly.