Both come to live with their aunt after the sudden death of their parents. At first, all seems well. However, Ruth's mental state has been deteriorating over time, and the burden of having two more children to care for seems to accelerate her descent into madness.
Both are taken in by their aunt after the unexpected passing of their parents. Initially, everything appears to be fine. Nevertheless, Ruth's mental health has been declining steadily, and the added responsibility of caring for two more children seems to hasten her downward spiral into insanity.