Introductions

Do I detect the faintest hint of a smile pass across the face of the young woman, as though she had noted the annoyance in my wife's voice and was amused rather than intimidated by it? I get the impression that there is more to her than meets the eye. She is soberly dressed in black, except that she wears a bright red scarf. That is very odd, as it is a warm summer's day. I'm surprised to find myself coveting that scarf, which is strange as it wouldn't at all match my clothes. Perhaps in my next incarnation...

"Pleased to meet you," she says politely enough. "I am - um - Mrs Wilhemina Murray. My companion is my - um - husband, Mr Allan Murray." Naturally she does not introduce the manservant; that would not be the done thing in Victorian London. However the servant scowls even more ferociously, as though he had expected to be introduced.

Those hesitations are informative. I have the impression that the woman is not telling the truth about their names but is unaccustomed to lying. I wonder why she should want to lie to us. However there seems to be nothing to gain from making an issue of it, so I let it pass. After all, we didn't give our real names either.

Whilst I am shaking hands with "Mr Murray":

1. We hear the sound of some sort of disturbance coming from within the academy. "Good Heavens!" "Mrs Murray" says, raising an eyebrow.

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