In the hours and days that followed, Cornelia made no conversation of her confrontation with the Guardian; not with Darius, not with her fellowship, not with James and certainly not with Cindy. And Cindy went along with her employer's wish of secrecy- though more out of fascination and amusement than anything.

Then Cornelia went into her husband's office and said...

I have heard that your business is doing well. And I, for my part, have found that my allowance- given to me by my sweet husband -is more than I can spend. So let us do this: Since it is unfair that Cindy the Patient should take on the burden of our whole household, let us take on rented servants. Let us give them their wages by the hour so that we don't have to give them their meals or their lodging and their wages will not be too heavy for our stations. After all, are we not Master and Madame? Why should we be ashamed to take on unlanded helpers? Must our one landed helper suffer for our pride?

Master James was astounded since he saw that the request was good. Of course, he approved of the request. And as he gave his approval, his face glowed with such a delight that Cornelia struggled not to slap it.

And so it was that, from then on, (since Cornelia actually searched in earnest) servants began coming to and from the house doing all the chores which Cindy used to do- leaving none for her to do. It got to a point where Cindy really had nothing in particular to do in the House of Gibbs, and her time there became almost unbearably boring. Nevertheless, she was quite happy to let her duties be taken up by others; with the exception of the chef who was a very bad and dirty chef. Following their dinner, when all the Gibbses had food poisoning, Cindy offered to reclaim the office of chef and Cornelia, mid-vomit, agreed most gratefully. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Then Cornelia went into her husband's office and said...

I know you love your son, but don't you also love me? And you have also always been a good sir to your servants. So let us do this: Since our house is full of treasures, and we have strangers coming in and out every day, let us make room in the attic for all the things for which we have no current use. Since I have a soft heart, and I love my things- practical or no -let me keep them safe and set apart. If you would only let the girl share a room with our son, there would be space enough. Space enough for the two children to share- since Darius' room is big enough -and space enough in the attic for all my treasures- since our servant is no longer there. What do you say?

Master James was astounded since he saw that the request was good. Of course, he approved of the request. And as he gave his approval, his face glowed with such a delight that Cornelia struggled not to slap it.

And so it was that, from then on, Cindy began to share a room with her brother, who did not know he was her brother, and who was miserable about the move on the surface but happy in secret since he was still scared of the dark and so delighted in having a companion. The happiness soon made its way to the surface when he discovered that a notepad- while a hindrance in conversation -was of no relevance at all in a pillow fight. The siblings, at last, became as siblings. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Then James went into his wife's bedroom and said...

It would be an insult if our son had to share a room with ramshackle furniture. So this is what I'm going to do: I'm going to take Cindy to buy a proper bed and a proper wardrobe and a proper desk and other things to make her proper enough to share a room with our son.

Madame Cornelia was livid since even she could not deny that the request was good. Of course, being afraid of the Overseers, she approved of the request. And when she gave her approval, her husband's face glowed with such a delight that she struggled not to slap it.

And so it was that, from then on, Cindy began to sleep on a proper bed. She began to keep her clothes in a proper wardrobe. And she began to do her reading and writing at a proper desk. And she began storing her wages and her lyrical coins in a proper treasure box. But in all this, she refused to replace the shadow which Malachi had wrapped around her and she continued to cuddle it to sleep. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Then James went into his wife's bedroom and said...

It would be an insult to our whole stock if it were felt that our live-in servant was treated no better than the servants coming in and out. So this is what I'm going to do: I'm going to take Cindy to buy nicer dresses and nicer coats and nicer skirts and masks and wigs and gloves and shoes until I know for myself that no one can question my eyes of ruby and emerald.

Madame Cornelia was livid since even she could not deny that the request was good. Of course, being afraid of the Overseers, she approved of the request. And when she gave her approval, her husband's face glowed with such a delight that she struggled not to slap it.

And so it was that, from then on, Cindy began to dress more like a sister to Darius, and more like a daughter to James. By the coin in James' purse, not one of Cindy's clothes looked to be any degree lesser than the clothes she had worn on Candle-Day's Eve. But in all this, neither Cindy nor James could bring themselves to buy lensless masks or even masks with clear lenses. And so, Cindy continued to wear darkly lensed masks. And she refused to replace the shadow which Malachi had wrapped around her. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Then Cornelia went into her husband's office and said...

In this modern world, isn't it a right for all people- high or low -to be educated in the ways of alethurgy? And I have always been happy with Darius' career at Tolemac Secondary. So let us do thi-

And at once, James objected. And when she persisted, he brought Darius into the conversation. And when both Darius and James could not convince her, Cornelia brought the issue to her fellowship- which included most of the parents of Darius' schoolmates. Of course, the Gibbses made no particular mention of the details, but on the principle of the dispute, there was a unanimous decision with the exception of one- Cornelia herself. For the first time in Tolemacan history, every parent and child (with the exception of Cornelia and Cindy) was united in principle. And the principle was this:

If you wish a child to like you, never let them touch a school.

And so she relented. And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And though Cindy would not formally become a student until a number of years later, her next time setting foot in a school was the very next day.