Gareth Grimsely visited his sister Vivian Grimsely at the late hour and go her into trouble

Thanks to Gareth's late night entreaty and Amanda Bland's spite, Vivian spent her first morning at Miss Dignam's Select Female Academy sitting on a hard chair writing, " I will practice decorum as a virtue whlist I reside in Oxford, " one hundred times.

No matter that she had pleaded with Miss Dignam that Gareth was her brother and in need of assistance. Miss Dignam only pursed her lip in a thin line. " We have a front door, " she said, and held up her hand when Vivian opened her mouth. " And he can plan ahead next time before curfew! ".

When Vivian tried to speak again, Miss Dignam forgot herself so far as to put her hands on her hips and exclaim , " Miss Grimsely, are you always so difficult? ".

Vivian closed her mouth and glanced at Amanda Bland, who had pounced on her as soon as Aunt Samantha had said her farewells with hugs and kisses. Amanda was smiling.

Vivian raised her chin higher. " I have been told I am rather more trouble, " she said in her clear voice. " You can ask anyone in the district. I am certain Amanda would be happy to furnish you with names and directions. She takes such an interest in me. "

The smile left Amanda's face.

Miss Dignam chose not to pursue the conversation. " Amanda, please conduct Miss Grimsely to an empty classroom, where she can pursue her morning labors, " she said.

Vivian waited until Miss Dignam had closed her office door behind them. " Amanda Bland, you are a fine friend! " she declared.

" And to think of I was looking forward to being your companion. "

Amanda sniffed. " I don't know why you ever entertained that notion. You might have fooled me, except that Bright wrote to warn me that you were a coming little snip who thought nothing of correcting people like our good vicar.

With a sinking feeling, Vivian remembered that Vicar Snead was a distant cousin to the Blands. " Lead on, Amanda, " she said, eyes ahead. " I will take my punishment."

Amanda blinked in surprise at Vivian's unexpected capitulation, but led her into the empty classroom. She supplied her with pen and ink and moved to the door. Vivian stopped her.

" Tell me, Amanda, what is the capital of the United States? " Amanda fiddled with the doorknob, a look of intense concentration troubling her face for a small moment. " I do believe it is Philadelphia, " she replied. " Yes, I am certain of it ".

Vivian sighed and turned to the blank page before her. " I am sure your are right, " she murmured. She finished writing her sentences before noon and was composing a letter home, begging someone to come and get her, when Miss Dignam swept into the classroom. She held out her hand for the sheaf of papers and checked them, her eyes growing wider and wider as she scanned the closely written sheets. She jabbed the offending papers with her fingers and thrust them under Vivian nose. " My dear Miss Grimsely, I don't know why I ever allowed your dear aunt to enroll you here! "

My stified, Vivian took the sheet and stared at them, her cheeks growing rosy. From number fifty on, when her mind began to grow numb, she had written. " I will practice boredom as a virtue whilst I reside in Oxford."

Without a word, she accepted another sheet of paper and bent her head over her labors once more. Miss Dignam watched in silence for a moment. " And while you are it, compose an essay on the folly of disobedience, " she said before she made her majestical way out of the room.

The dinner hour came and went. As her stomach rumbled, Vivian breathed in the fragrance of beef roast and gravy, boiled mutton and the sharper odor of mint sauce. Never mind that she had always regarded boiled mutton as penance; she could have eaten a plateful and her held her dish for more .

But no one else came to rescue her from her sentences. " Vivian Grimsely has been sentenced to starvation, " she said out loud, and giggled, despite her misery. There was a tap at the door, scarcely audible, and Vivian stifled her laughter, a fearful that too much enjoyment during punishment would lead to more sentences, and perhaps a thesis on the folly of mirth.

" Yes? " she asked.

A maid stuck her head in the doorway, She looked around, and seeing no one else in the room, whisked herself inside and closed the door behind her quickly. She held out a small package, done up in a white paper and tied with a silver bow. " For you , miss, at least, if you are Miss Grimsely, " said the maid, when Vivian made no move to take the gift.

" I am Miss Grimsely, but tell me, who is this from? "

The maid looked about her again and come closer again. " He was a tall gentleman, a student I am sure, but more older than some. He came to call, but Miss Dignam had left word with the footman that you are in the middle of an improving punishment.

The maid moved closer again, cupping her mouth with her hand, in the events that the walls had ears. " At least, that is what she always call it. I don't know that it ever improved anyone ".

" Did he leave his name? ". Vivian asked, thinking of Gareth. " Was he tall and blond, and rather fine to look at? ".

The maid shook her head. " No Miss, not a bit of it. " She perched herself on the desk. " But that's only the half of it. I shoved him out, and then who do I see poking about tht kitchen door a half hour later but the same gentleman.

" And? " Vivian prompted.

" And he handed me this package and told me to sneak it to you, and mind that I was not to let the dragon see it.

Vivian slid the ribbon off the package and opened it. Inside was a box of chocolates. " Wagoner chocolates, " she read, and looked at the maid. " It's the best candy shop in Oxford. "

Vivian opened the box, inhaling the comforting odor. With ink stained fingers, she picked up the small card over. Nothing more.