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Finally Karigan cleared her throat, and that appeared to be a signal for Lorine to carry the tray to the bed Karigan hauled herself into bed quickly, observing the tray looked heavy

"Don’t you ently rested the tray on Karigan’s lap "She doesn’t like her routine upset"

"What’s wrong with the air?"

Lorine shrugged "It’s the way it’s always been Dirty and bad for the weak and elderly So out the stacks and which way the wind is blowing" Then she leaned close and whispered, "Ill hurave expression for several seconds before nodding and adding in normal tones, "I hear it is better in the countryside"

She rean recoiled at the pungent steam that plumed from the contents Boiled dinner! Just like her aunts used to e, corned beef, and potatoes She tried to conceal her revulsion

"Call an stared at the pale, liht, wishing she could reopen the

PHOSPHORENE

After Lorine removed the almost untouched meal, the scents of fresh paper and ink replaced the stench of boiled cabbage as Karigan flipped through the books Mirrias unbent--clearly new-bought Sheof ink, the type neat and precise Though her own ti presses, none produced such a fine product

For all that, the illustrations inside were black and white etchings, not nearly as beautiful as the hand-colored renderings she was accustoht The illustrations were generally of youngwith ar before his lady The title of the first she looked at was, Clara May’s Day to Remember Another was A Pretty Proposal The books were, quite plainly, stories of courtship and roly beset by hardship only to be rescued by gentlemen of means All stories Mirriahed Not that she didn’t enjoy a good romance, but the idea it was the only sort of book she’d be interested in annoyed her She supposed, however, sheabout the mores and expectations of this world, so she picked one at random, Saucy Sera and Mister Chaunce

Saucy Sera, apparently, had a wild streak, rebelling against as norirls She ran and played and cliirls should not, she dressed up as a boy and ran away so she could do as she wished, including ride horses Karigan’s heart ith spirited Sera as she strove for freedom, but naturally her plan fell to pieces when Mister Chaunce rescued her froender was about to be exposed in a hu and public manner Her character underwent complete metamorphosis as she fell immediately in love with Mister Chaunce Her ays quickly faded, and she beca Mister Chaunce Sera’s reward? A grand wedding day in which she an thought a happier ending would have been Sera finding a way to stay free and independent, but, she surht here and probably not what they fantasized about Who wouldn’t want some hero to rescue them and shoulder all responsibilities? And, she wondered wistfully, ouldn’t desire falling in true love? It was all very seductive

By the tiht in the rooain As if on cue, Lorine arrived with supper Much to Karigan’s relief, there was no cabbage or corned beef in sight, boiled or otherwise

"Mirriam says you ain your strength and put so up would be a probleh the pastry of a an said, causing the maid to halt on her way out She wanted to know for sure what the bells represented "Why do the bells ring? Is it to tell the tian as if puzzled, then s you were not raised in the city Yes The bells tell us the tiers, it tells the slaves when they must work, when they may stop for meals, and when they are done for the day"

"Was this their last bell? Have they been dismissed for the day?"

"No, miss It was the supper bell After supper, they hile there is still daylight Froan ht be" Lorine broke off, staring toward the , lost in thought

"Might be what?" Karigan prompted

"More bearable" Lorine shook her head as if dazed "Nothing to trouble yourself about, an replied Lorine curtsied and was gone, leaving Karigan to reflect on Lorine’s words and wonder about what her experiences as a mill slave had been like

After she ate her fill, she needed to be up and out of bed again, so she crept out into the hallway and again heard male voices from somewhere downstairs She picked out the professor’s tones, as well as two or three others Unlike the visit fro soundedabout sneaking down the hall to at least take a peek when a throat was cleared behind her