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She wasn’t certain it was polite to mention, but she couldn’t help herself "Why, you’re all over soot-colored by nature!"

"Yes, miss A creature from darkest Africa Wooo, wooo" He weaved his head around, pretending to be a ghost

Sophronia had read about Africa This was a subject upon which she was fully conversant "Oh,Bec, South London" At which he returned to the noisy, musty darkness of the boiler room

Sophronia made her way back to her quarters safely froh the hallway No one ake upon her return except Buhted by the piece of coal and dish of water she placed before hiusts of appreciative steaed her pinafore and checked the state of her face and hands Luckily, theistered her e, es were eli her eyelashes in the small hand mirror for the next half hour, until Diuess what I did!" said Sophronia while her friend blinked blearily and stretched

"No, probably not Could I wake up first, please?"

"Certainly" At which Sophronia paused She had no idea how to dispose of her dirty bathing water At home, she would have simply tossed it out the , but here there was noto their chamber She excused herself, took it to the privy, and returned to hand the basin to Dimity

Dimity poured herself some fresh water out of the pitcher and said, "Well?"

"I visited the land of soot and fire"

"Sophronia, really Do you ? If so, I should warn you, I’d consider that grounds for rescinding all offers of friendship"

"It’s ales"

"A habit you ether She easp "Sophronia! Did you visit the boiler room?"

"Yes!" Sophronia casually leaned back on both elbows

"You aren’t allowed to do that!"

"So I learned"

"But all the engine parts down there are exposed A girl can see exactly how things work It’s undignified"

"It’s full of boys"

Di that state class of boy, to be sure? I really wouldn’t if I were you Terribly bad for one’s reputation Then again, I don’t suppose there are any proper boys on board this school at all"

"Not unless you count Professor Braithwope"

"Certainly not Now, Captain Niall, mind you, I’d count hi stuck her head in "Breakfast in ten irl looked much the same as she had the day before--her dress dowdy and her hair in one siainst the doorja posture class

"We won’t have hiair

"Have who?"

"Captain Niall, of course"

"Have him for what?"

"Lessons, silly Did you think they only kept hiirl drifted away

Sophronia and Diirls possibly learn from a olf?" Sophronia wondered

"How to keep a hat on no matter what the circumstances?" hazarded Dimity

"We need to nip to the post," Sophronia stated firmly as they left breakfast

"We do?" Dilove, re article fro to send it to my problematical brother for analysis I should warn you, it’s unlikely anything will coetful, my brother Rather a nascent absentminded academic"

Sophronia hesitated a irls "Pardon me, could you point us in the direction of the postal service?"

The girl looked down her nose at her "Head steward handles that"

"And where would I find him?"

"Steward’s quarters, of course," she said and turned away

I guess we have been disht be?"

Dimity cocked her head "Well, on a boat it’s one of the upper decks,and the like"

"But we boarded from below"

"True"