I want to teach and it's an amazing opportunity that's been offered to me, practically on the doorstep, you could say. What is wrong, Ben?" The boy took her hand as they walked across the frost-spangled ground towards the wood, and in an affectionate gesture he leant his head against her arm for a moment as he said, "I shall miss you." She stopped and looked down at him. "But it will be the same as when I was at the Academy, even better. I don't have to be at the Manor until nine and I leave again at four, and the journey will be over in a flash, because they are being kind enough to take me back and forth in the gig. You'll see much more of me than you did last year." His eyes were showing a sad expression, more so than usual. Suddenly, she stooped down to him and, taking his face between her hands, she said, "What is it that's troubling you, Ben?" "I don't know. It's just that I don't want you to go. I feel sad at your going." "Did you not feel sad last year when I went to the Academy?" "No.
