Page 45 (1/2)

He clearly did not knohat to do when approached by a pretty young lady wearing a wicker chicken who ought--by all standards of decency--to be long abandoned on the moor… chickenless

Sophronia held out her hand, as if she were a bishop and wished it to be kissed

The young Picklele an appropriate response He"Spice Administrator Bawkin, ave him a perfect curtsy and then cocked her head, inquisitive "Mechanie and was poking about the back side of the coal scuttle, out of view

The young reater iet here?"

Sophronia floated her fingers about in a dancer’s confusion "I walked You would suggest some other method?"

"No, I mean, miss, the ship was evacuated"

"Dear et lost in my music It is my one true passion Do you have a one true passion, Mr Spice-Bawkin?" Sophronia prattled in an airy-fairy manner She did not let him answer "Mine is music I si, don’t you find? Of course you do Everyone does When I sit at my harp, the world si thatI’m afraid itimportant An evacuation, you say? Are you the authorities? Have we been evacuated for political reasons? Oh, I always knew they would go too far"

"Who?" interjected the young Pickle

Sophronia was breezy and dismissive, "Oh, you know, they" All the while she chattered, she pressed the young htly crowding his social space So vested was he in keeping the correct distance for conversation with a lady that he didn’t even realize he had been ainst Lady Linette’s er in a lace mobcap stared austerely down at hi a chicken?"

"Oh, this old thing? It’s the very latest fashion accessory Don’t you like it? Mine is a bit big, I grant you I was going to put it into my hair, but it was too heavy You don’t like it? I’ht burst into tears

"Of course I mean, I do like it It’s very, um, bendy"

Sophronia’s lips tre man leaned in, solicitous

She said, "I really am very sorry about this You seem like such a nice man"

"You are? I do? Well, they should have found you after the evacuation We sent a sweep around"

"My fault entirely, I assure you I’ve never trusted chimney sweeps" Sophronia allowed one perfect tear to trickle over her cheek, staring up into his confused face with an expression ofPickleman He’d had no chance from the moment he entered the room If there were a book on befuddlement with evil intent, Sophronia had just thrown it at him