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“She didn’t do it to be nice She did it so she could say she was nice,” snapped Bayleaf “And school was only so we could give georumellphone in the Municipal Orchestra and steal the Pooka’s shapeshifting recipe”

“I wish I had a grumellphone now, I’ll tell you what,” said Sadie with a harsh, short laugh like a hammer blow She wrapped her braid around one hand nervously, as though soht hear her

“And if so’s lip quivered “They asked nice and everything back then I had a Fairy mother We rode wild bicycles every day and ate tire-jerky round the campfire and she loved me till she wasn’t allowed to love me anymore”

“Nobody wants to hear about your stupidblue eyes, the kind that are ot one! It’s not fair! I hate your mother!”

“Shut up,” hissed Penny

“I get it,” growled Blunderbuss, as at thather ear wrenched off by the distressed Herbert “The Fairies cae and they’re nobody’s ood and owned by one beastie or another Yes? Aht?”

“There’s waiting lists,” Sadie whispered “You can put in for one of us at the Office in Idlelily We cost the saood health A little cheaper, even” She looked up to the peeling ceiling and gritted her teeth “I’ainst her chest “That’s me I’m worth more than a horse!”

“And it’s like…like being in service?” Ta not to offend “Like in books they have in England Butlers and s”

“That, too,” nodded Bayleaf, and everyone suddenly got very quiet

Penny Farthing started to speak, but Sadie interrupted her “I’m sorry, Penn I love you, but you can’t tell them You don’t know Your house works you, but you don’t have to…to do it Calpurnia would never make you You’re lucky You’re so lucky”

“Don’t tell me what I know,” Penny cried “Do you knohat Calpurnia Farthing had to do to keep me when the Fairies came back? She did used to have two hands, Sadie Spleenwort You’re not the only one who used to be brave! I rode at the head of a Bike Gang and even the bulls came when I called! Cal and I were the first in Fairyland to cross the Perverse and Perilous Sea by velocipede! They threw us a parade in the Antipodes e kicked our stands down on dry land at last! Tell ain how much more you know than me!”

“They’ll find out soon anyway,” piped a boy with great brown eyes like hard toffees “They’ve got their shoes The Office will be co for them soon They’ll have to Stand in the Corner like we all do!” And he burst into tears

At that moment Toether Their sto out all at once, and their teeth ached as though they wanted to fire from their mouths like ivory bullets Blunderbuss bellowed, heras she roared Static flew fro s and ju to stand between her troll and whatever was biting hi wildly To crack snapped the air The wood of Taold likeTom Thorn looked down at his own foot; his shoe was already spilling over with the saold

They were not the only ones—the girl with round cheeks and earrings screa to the side of aon the floor

“That’s the work bell,” said Bayleaf, who looked a little glad to see the newcoo It’ll only get worse if you shirk” He pulled up his trouser-leg to show theold from the knee on “Some of us do try to say no Run off”