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Prudence looked up from her careful mutilation of the menu "No"

The inventor retrieved her jacket and top hat from a stand by the door and made her way out into the blustery corridor

"Fooie," said Prudence

"I couldn’t agree with you hter

Alexia reoodly while She enjoyed the ambiance, the constant supply of tea and nibbles, the efficiency of the staff, and the fact that it afforded her a general inspection of the other passengers Everyone, after all, had to eat Their fellow pilgrims were the expected assortment She spotted several sets of pale ladies--invalids in search of health The two emaciated felloere all floppy hair and elboith ill-cut jackets could only be artists The tweed-clad jovial chaps intent on drinking the steamer’s entire stock of port before they reached port were obviously sportsmen keen upon crocodiles There was a wastrel in black Alexia first thought ht be a statesman, until he whipped out a notebook, which made her think he was that lowest of the low: a travel journalist There were various unfashionable gentleear and too much facial hair, either antiquities collectors orwas that Prudence see the ood thing Which was hoas that her husband found her still at tea even after sunset

He arrived trailing Mr and Mrs Tunstell, the nurse bleary-eyed but dressed for dinner

"Dada!" said Prudence, looking very much like she would appreciate some affection from her father Alexia set her bare hand carefully on the back of her daughter’s neck and then nodded at her husband

"Poppet" Conall buzzed his daughter exuberantly on the cheek, le, and then did the same to his wife "Wife" This elicited an austere look, which they both kneas one of affection

Alexia supposed she ought to retire and dress for dinner herself, but she was terribly afraid of , so she reer table so that the others could join her and Prudence

"I do believe I ," pronounced Ivy, sitting next to Alexia without regard for proper table arrangement or precedence Alexia supposed such standards had to be relaxed when traveling Lord Maccon sat on Ivy’s other side, keeping a good deal of roohter

"Is it the space or the fashion that appeals?"

"Both Now, Percy, love, the furniture is not for eating" Baby Percival was busy gu over his father’s arh," said Primrose from her position on the nursemaid’s lap She had not yet developed the capacity for consonants

This behavior, peaceable though it was, appeared to be too much for Mrs Tunstell "Oh, take them away, Mrs Dawaud-Plonk, do We will have a nice supper sent down to you This simply isn’t the place for children, I’m afraid"

Mrs Dawaud-Plonk looked worried, faced with the logistical prospect of having to carry three toddlers But Prudence, seeh time to leave, jumped down from her chair, removed the serviette from about her neck, handed it carefully to herpatiently while the nurseirl then preceded the nurseoing

Ivy looked after, impressed "I do look forith pleasure to the tireater stability"

"I wouldn’t, if I were you She gets into everything" It was a matter of some discussion in the Maccon–Akeldareater efficiency than was expected in an infant It was generally thought that thisfar faster and her olf one stronger Together they probably bettered her burgeoning understanding of bipedal motion

Ivy commenced to chatter about her experiences aboard the ship, for all they had been at sea only half a day, as though steamers were her life’s work and main passion "The s in my cabin are actually round Can you believe it?" The meal proceeded without incident, if the phrase without incident ht be used to describe such an ordeal as objections to the type of sauce, the quality of the an to suspect actors of being far more choosy in their preferences than even Lord Akeldaiblet soup, fried turbot, beef shoulder, eon pies, croquettes of ue, and boiled potatoes was all that one ht hope for aboard ship And the seconds, always her favorite, far excelled such expectations, as they included both black-cap and rice puddings, jam tartlets, and a platter of excellent cheeses

Lord Maccon declined after-dinner drinks and cards Lady Maccon declined a stroll about the decks Together they made their way back to their private quarters instead Alexia, thinking of her filched book on anatoe of the comparative peace of travel with no muhjah or BUR duties to distract thereed but seemed to believe books had no part in this activity

They compromised Alexia took out the book on anatomy and used Conall as a study speci to deterans were situated froers Since Conall was ticklish, this led to a small tussle Eventually, Alexia lost possession of the book, her clothing, and her heart rate, but the study session was declared, by Conall at least, to be a resounding success

CHAPTER EIGHT