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Sophronia hted to find Mrs Barnaclegoose alone, sipping tea and watching the arrivals and departures out the frontShe looked up as Sophronia entered

"Miss Sophronia? What has happened to you? You are covered in cheese and onions Have you learned nothing at finishing school?"

"I have learned a great deal, as a matter of course"

"Clearly not"

"And so lady!"

"We don’t have tih I do remember the lesson Any one Or the Pickleuise intact"

She sidled up to the portly woown ofthe various ruffles of the skirt and a quantity of pink fringe about the neck and sleeves It was the kind of gown to be favored by a young and not very pioushalf Mrs Barnaclegoose’s age She disguises herself with the ridiculous, realized Sophronia Nice tactic

Mrs Barnaclegoose looked at Sophronia as though she earing Scottish tartan while dancing an Irish jig

Sophronia handed her the Bumbersnoot reticule "Take this mechanimal, please I have just fed him the you-knohat that everyone wants He should, um, emit it shortly It would behoove you to be well away froive it to either Lady Linette or the necessary authorities I trust your discretion Be careful; siovernoose’s eyes narrowed "I have no idea, young ht not Nevertheless, this is a oose gave Sophronia a once-over "I take it the cheese is the result of your procure so to look less affronted and oose, I a ht you would be an adht actually be blushing with pleasure

"You are very wise, Mrs Barnaclegoose" How have I never noticed she only required praise to findthat this, too, was a mark of her new education Many was the lady whose belief in another’s sound judg her favorably

The older woman actually smiled at her

Sophronia s" and nodded to the reticule, which Mrs Barnaclegoose had now taken and tucked under the edge of her copious skirts

"My dear girl, I have it all entirely under control"