She peered out from her blankets and tried to remember just where she was. She looked at the bed next to her and saw two black braids trailing over the pillow. Ava, Delia remembered. Next to Ava’s bed was a big brass cage, which held the chirping finches. Across the room slept two more little girls, each with golden ringlets ruffled messily on their pillows. On the other side of Delia slept Imogen, whose illustrated arm draped off the side of the bed. The other little girls soon woke up, and they all got dressed and headed to the dining room. Breakfast was little stacks of pancakes that the cooks had made into different shapes: hearts, stars, and tiny rabbits. After breakfast, Delia’s class put on their sweaters and coats and headed outside. The sun shone brightly and the air was windy and crisp, as was proper for a March morning. Headmaster Bluebeard was in front of the house with Professor Silas to help the children into a pair of carriages, each with two big bears hitched in front.
