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"Ah, of course And what, exactly, is a Pickleman?"

"You don’t know?"

"Hoould I?"

"Oh, I’ you’re a covert recruit You seem to be so very much one of us"

"That’s kind of you to say"

"Careful--wouldn’t want Monique finding out you like it here She’ll et you turned out Anyway, Pickles Not exactly legally, and rarely nicely They like to collect money and power That’s pretty much all I know Oh, and their leader is called the Great Chutney"

Sophronia’s eyebrows arched "Well, if you say so"

Diht be working for the them And re with them, why the theatrics in the road? Why not just hand over the prototype? Why hide it atfor the for?"

"Herself? Her family? I don’t know--the vampires, maybe? Even the olves Or perhaps one of the teachers is a traitor We already know she has one of the her"

Di ourselves? Isn’t this soave an evil little grin "I’ Besides, if the prototype is at my house, I am involved Monique involved me"

Dimity only nodded "I still don’t like how quiet she’s been We should be on our guard"

"Agreed"

Diiven up on trying to send a e, Monique turned her unwelco a plonker

Sophronia waslate to luncheon, as was her custoe of punctuality As she told Sister Mattie the third ti interesting happened until after an event commenced Her natural tardiness was co to find ties and how to plan a five-courseand Dih tih the door, when so

Luckily, they’d learned so in a crouch on one knee with the other bent in what ht be considered a raceful, except she tore her hem as she tried to rise, tripped to the side, and crashed into an unsuspecting older girl

By that point, the entire school had turned to watch her, and a wave of giggles rippled through the hall

Sophronia was absolutelyso hard to learn to at least pretend to be proper and well-mannered

Mademoiselle Geraldine said, "Miss Temminnick! Is there a proble furiously It reminded her of the incident with the du school, she thought, teachinglady?"

"I seem to have misplaced it on solared at her "What was that? Excuses? Don’t be sies, Headmistress"

Lady Linette said with quiet firo back out and reenter the room properly"

"Yes, my lady" Sophronia turned and marched from the room, and then caround, even though she knew everyone atching her and they had recently had lessons in hoith one’s nose in the air

She saw a boot twitch as if it wanted to head out and trip her a second time The boot was of peach-colored kid leather, with pink ribbons for laces and a shockingly high heel The person attached to it was Monique de Pelouse

Monique smiled sweetly at her and then turned and said in very loud voice, "Isn’t it so intelligent of Miss Temminnick to wear blue? With her complexion, it really is the only safe color How unfortunate the dress couldn’t be cut a tad ently in annoyance, went to sit at the other end of the table Why does Monique impose upon us, she wondered, just for torture? I know she’s been deirls Give the conversation

"Don’t worry, Sophronia," said Monique, "I’ingly

Sophronia didn’t point out that Monique had tripped her, as she kneould only sound defensive

Dimity said, "You’re not usually that cluatha with a shy smile

Sophronia looked down the table at Monique "You’re right, I’m not"

Monique wasn’t finished, either After tea, distracted by the prospect of a quadrille lesson with Made which they had been instructed by Lady Linette to try passing secret ht by the headatha wasn’t with the wasn’t exactly a friend, but they did try to keep an eye on her, as they atha finally joined them, some ten minutes late to class, her eyes were red Made-to on the subject of tardiness, which started her crying

"Now, dear, there is no use wasting tears on me, I’ lady to cry with any forrace Your skin becoracefully at that juncture and glided to the back of the asse observed She was used to atha replied, trying to stop her tears

"No, no, not with the sleeve Dear, how many times do I have to tell you? You must never wipe any part of your face with your sleeve That is what a handkerchief is for And even then we dab Ladies dab! Where is your handkerchief?"

Agatha fished about hopelessly in her reticule

"No handkerchief, Agatha Woos lady of qualit-tay are you?"

"I am sorry, Headmistress"