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Lady Linette said, "Really, dear, do get out of its way"

Sophronia did so, watching with interest as the maid trundled on to the other side of the deck, where a hatch opened and it disappeared inside

"What was that?"

"A maid mechanical, dear I know you’re from the country, but surely your family cannot be so backward as that!"

"No, of course not My family has a butler, an 1846 Frowbritcher But why doesn’t yours have a proper face?"

"Because it doesn’t need one"

Sophronia was a little embarrassed, but it had to be said: "But her parts are exposed!"

"Met accustomed to the style Very few of our mechanicals are standard household models"

They wended their way up several sets of stairs, into and out of long corridors, and over other decks--soically, to be made of stone Sophronia had boarded the airship at the far back section of the long dirigible caterpillar, and they noere crossing through its center

The interior decoration looked reat Atlantic steamers, except that the entire place seerandmother who knitted horrible small booties for workhouse orphans and s and finials supported crocheted antimacassars in mauve and chartreuse A medieval suit of armor in the corner of one corridor was decorated liberally with ribbon flowers Sophronia paused to examine it, only to find tiny mechanical devices hidden within the flowers Suddenly, the outrageous chandeliers at each junction took on sinister aspects Are those glass baubles decorative or deadly? They are rather knifelike Can one call a chandelier sinister?

"The back end of the school grounds," explained Lady Linette, "is for group and recreational activities That is where we take ular exercise The middle section is comprised of student residences and classrooms, and the front is for teachers and staff That is where we are heading now"

"Uh, why?" Sophronia wanted to know

"To meet Mademoiselle Geraldine, of course"

"The real one this time?" asked Sophronia, a little snidely And then, when her stomach rumbled, she added, "Will there be food?"

Lady Linette seemed to find this funny

Sophronia couldn’t understand Lady Linette She had a French naht she detected a certain burr that suggested the north country, or possibly the West End

"Now, be certain to reet lost The school grounds are rather convoluted Theto note is that you et between sections Very high up, however, is not recoet to the squeak decks, the way between the sections is not suited to proper attire Ah, here we are You see this red tassel here? It marks the teacher’s section You are not per lesson time you are restricted to certain areas However, you can never enter the tassel section without an adult escort"

Sophronia nodded She wondered how the restrictions were enforced Which was the ive this abnor school an opportunity to prove itself hile

"Very well, Miss Temminnick Tell me a little about yourself Are you well-educated?"

Sophronia considered this question seriously "I don’t believe so"

"Excellent Ignorance is most undervalued in a student And have you killed anyone recently?"

Sophronia blinked "Pardon?"

"Oh, you know, a knife to the neck, or perhaps a cleverly noosed cravat?"

Sophronia said only, "NotWell, don’t you fret We shall soon find you some useful hobby"

Lady Linette stopped in front of a fancy-looking door decorated in gilt and navy leather and boasting a particularly large number of tassels She knocked sharply

"Come in, do!"

Lady Linette motioned for Sophronia to wait, then went inside alone, closing the door behind her

After deterh the door, Sophronia nosed about the hallway The lighting was fascinating Gas pipes were inset into the wall, and little la like so erous, to run gas through walls Essentially, every corridor they walked along was liable to explode

Sophronia was near the end of the passage, up on tiptoe to exahts, when anotherdown the hallway It carried a tray laden with tea and co Sophronia, it paused and let out a little whistle of inquiry

When Sophronia did not respond, it whistled again, imperiously

Sophronia had no idea what to do The ilt door No Lady Linette to come to the rescue

The whistle turned into a very loud shriek, like that of a teakettle, and Sophronia guessed that this was how restrictions were enforced

Halfway down the hallway, a door banged open and a gentleed He was improbably mediocre in size, shape, and looks His nondescript features were only emphasized by the addition of a fantastic crimson velvet top hat The face under the hat, Sophronia saw, did not look at all pleased

NEVER HURL GARLIC MASH AT A MAN WITH A CROSSBOW

Whot, whot?" the

He was very pale and boasted an unassu mustache, which was perched atop his upper lip cautiously, as though it were slightly embarrassed to be there and would like to slide away and beco more fashionable He wore a pair of spectacles and squinted through theoes there?" He had a funny way of talking around his teeth As if they pose an inconvenience

"Sorry to disturb you, sir," said Sophronia

"What’s that infernal racket? Maid!" He glared at theSophronia’s path "Stop that immediately"

The mechanical continued to shriek

"Maid," yelled the aht, resume previous path"

The alar on its tracks as though built entirely of ball barrings It sped down the corridor