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Professor Shrimpdittle’s boyishly handsolared at the vampire teacher Professor Braithwope, flustered by actually having to deal with a human illness, remained unaware of the man’s ire

The matron arrived She and Sister Mattie made a litter out of some parasols and carried the insensate Monique from the room

By noord had spread, and most of the lessons were on hiatus The doors were croith curious students, a consequence of their education A fewDi with interest as the fainted girl was carried past She exchanged a feords with Pillover, as lurking near Professor Shri professor blustered loudly

"Don’t be silly, Algonquin," Professor Lefoux sneered "The girl fainted Could hardly be Aloysius’s fault!"

"No good can coirls," insisted Shri to Vieve that irl then trotted back the way she had come Sophronia realized Pillover et Vieve into Bunson’s, as he knew her real identity How to persuade hiirls returned to class, soine, fainting forward!" Preshea whispered, white with shock

What did Monique eat? Useful to know, thought Sophronia I must ask Sister Mattie Dover’s powder, perhaps? And why did Monique want to get out of class so badly she poisoned herself?

Over supper, Pillover agreed to Vieve’s planned infiltration, because it was evil to hide a girl fro truly evil "If I’ame" His expression re was a struggle Here he was, forced to be bad, when at heart, he was a rather agreeable fellow No wonder he behaved like a pustule, as his sister put it

Felix watched Sophronia’s whispered interchange with the younger boy with an odd expression on his face She made certain he could not overhear the actual conversation

Monique looked none the worse for her faint She must have used the illness as an excuse to read those other secret letters because she proed in an odd role reversal

She took a seat between Diatha, not Preshea and one of the boys

"Di," she said aardly

"Um, thank you, Monique?" Dimity was tentative as she frantically searched for the barb within the co in order to watch this fascinating proceeding

"Such a nice bracelet you have" Monique silt filigree with paste aain Can I help you with so, Monique?"

"As a matter of fact, yes It see you and your lovely brother -out ball"

Pillover choked on hisa small bit out his nose Diave a slight nod and then pointed at herself

Dimity nodded back "We will, of course, consider your kind offer, but you know I couldn’t possibly attend without Sophronia We do everything together"

Monique winced

"And Sidheag And Agatha" The other two girls looked up Agatha pretended to be pleased Sidheag atteusted Sophronia successfully hid a sritted her teeth "In that case, you are all invited I hope you have outfits suitable to the occasion" Poor Monique; she couldn’t resist saying so nasty

"I do now," said Sophronia, but she did not push This was far too fascinating of a character change So in those letters had forced Monique to issue invitations to Di the kidnapping attempts

Felix turned to Sophronia "I demand the first dance and the dinner dance, fair Ria"

Sophronia careedy You can have the third I’ll consider the dinner"

"You’re a hard-hearted wo," at Sophronia, whichwas the only one not at all interested in this alteration to their London activities Thus she had not been distracted by the conversation and was pointing at the head table where the teachers sat

Professor Shri at Professor Braithwope The visiting teacher’s sandy hair was h it repeatedly His blue eyes atery fro The students sensed the tension and were embarrassed Really, he should try to hide his animosity It wasn’t done to allow emotions to impact anyone else’s enjoy their own, despite a gru soup into her mouth in the annoyed ’s attention had been caught by the arrival of Mada her way to the dining table A place was laid for her, so she had been anticipated, although she had missed the soup course She was permitted to sit, with only a dirty look froht punctuality , brains, and breathing

Sophronia wished for an opportunity to talk to the fortune-teller alone, to test out her suspicions that she was an agent She considered breaking into the record room to see if there were any files on the lady Madame Spetuna sat next to Professor Braithwope The vaed in animated conversation, much to the continued annoyance of Shrimpdittle

Sophronia said, "Professor Shrimpdittle seems quite emotional over the presence of a vampire I wonder if he is entirely stable One doesn’t have to like them, but they are here to stay Oneexpressions of confusion

"He’s all right, is Shrimpdittle," said Pillover Sophronia reest of the boys on board and had said he was confused as to why he had been permitted this trip--which wasHad Shri to put the boy at risk? He could be working for the Pickle to kidnap Di pensively at the head table She was bent on getting Vieve’s agenda enacted regardless of the ed Is he fond of the drink, perhaps? Don’t you feel as if his objections against the supernatural are excessive?"

"What are you i at all Although, it could be that he is trying to hide favor or income"

Monique, of all people, ju to hate theressive? Are ?"