In the morning there stood at the foot of Lucy’s bed a small round human woman wearing an exceedingly white smock and a look of displeasure. She had short gray hair and her face was also gray. Actually her hair and face were similar in color to the point of being confusing, even jarring to Lucy. Her hands, resting atop her stomach, were so deeply red as to appear scalded. This was Agnes, the cook.
“Were you not told to lock the door?” she said.
“Hello. Yes. Good morning, ma’am. I was.” Lucy’s head was throbbing, and his throat was so dry that it was difficult to speak. His boots were peering out from beneath the blankets and Agnes, pointing, asked,
“Is this the custom, where you come from?”
“I fell asleep,” Lucy explained, sitting up.
“That’s to be expected, when one is in bed. But why did you not take the boots off before sleep came, is my question.” Agnes drew back the blanket; the sheets were stained with earth and snow. When the puppy clambered out, Agnes gasped. “Goodness! I thought it was a rat.”
“It’s not a rat, ma’am.”
“That’s clear now.” She reached down and scratched the puppy’s chin. “Does Mr. Olderglough know you keep an animal?”
“No.”
“And how long were you planning on hiding it from him?”
“It’s nothing I’ve been hiding, ma’am. That is, it’s only just come to pass.”
“It’s something he will want to hear about.”
“I will be sure to tell him.”
“Very good. And when will you be rising, I wonder? Mr. Olderglough has had to fetch his own breakfast, and yours is getting colder all the while.”
“I’m sorry about that, ma’am; it won’t happen again. I’m getting up now.”
Agnes nodded, and crossed the room to go. Pausing at the door, she said, “You will remember to lock up?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“It’s not something to be forgotten.” She looked over her shoulder at Lucy. “Or possibly you don’t understand how important this is.”
Lucy swung his boots from the bed, and to the floor. “I suppose I do.” He scooped the puppy up and deposited her in his pocket. “Actually, I don’t,” he said. “Why exactly must I lock my door, please?”
“We all must lock our doors.”
“But what is the reason?”
She measured her words. “It’s not for nothing, and that’s all you need to know.”
Agnes took her leave, and Lucy sat awhile, pondering. “I should like to know quite a lot more than that,” he said at last. Later, he would wish to know less.
He moved to the window, telescope in hand.