Lucy had been a.s.signed a new maid, her name was Niny. Niny did not feel at home with this new lady; all she knew was that this was Lady Wicks.h.i.+re. She was first shocked when one of her fellow maids, s.h.i.+lla, returned dressed luxuriously. She was first to rebuke s.h.i.+lla as she felt s.h.i.+lla had no respect for the lady. s.h.i.+lla but glanced at her before leaving to change. All she heard s.h.i.+lla say to Lady Wicks.h.i.+re was that she had finished her task. What task? She wanted to ask, but the look on Mrs. Muburg's face caused her to shut up. This lady was really odd; she rarely said a thing, when she returned from cla.s.s, she ate fruit deserts and lounged in bed. A while before, she went out to stroll in the gardens with her friends Lady Jeuteh and Lady J'hunten, who chatted continuously while Lucy interjected a word or two.

Her colleagues, the other two maids, said little. They only talked when asked, she sometimes wanted to talk about the rumours going around with the ladies, but no one joined her. There was so much silence, she was uncomfortable. No one talked, laughed, got angry, nothing happened. She had no opportunity to talk; as she understood no one cared about clothes, shoes, fas.h.i.+on, gossip, and all the rest. She was not sure what to do. One thing was sure; this was the strangest service in all her years.