WHEN EFFIE GOT HOME, Cait was upstairs having a candlelit bath and Orwell was still reading his copy of Galloglass in front of the fire in the sitting room. Baby Luna was in her playpen, wearing her favorite pink tutu and eating an ice-cream cone without a bib on. She’d clearly been included in the day of selfishness. Was every day going to be like that now that Effie had put Galloglass in the Great Library? But it was only a short poem. And it had been in the library before. And the day had actually worked out quite well when you thought about it—well, the bits in the Realworld at least.

“I expect you’re still wanting to borrow this,” Orwell said to Effie when she walked into the sitting room. He waved the book at her provocatively.

“Not really,” said Effie. “Keep it.”

“What’s got into you?” asked Orwell.

“Nothing,” said Effie. “I think I might just get an early night.”

“It’s only six o’clock. Cait’s making vegetable stew with dumplings for dinner.”

Effie sighed. “Well, I’ll go to bed straight after dinner. I’ve got a long day tomorrow.”

“Ah yes, your first day as a university student,” said Orwell. “Don’t eat the cottage pie in the canteen, that’s all I’ll say. Oh, and keep out of the botany department. They’ve got some enormous plant in there that is apparently very carnivorous. It’s already eaten two post-docs and a cleaner.”

“Okay.”

“Are you all right? Normally even you would be interested in carnivorous plants.”

“I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Well, you’re missing out with this book, I can tell you. Such a magnificent poem. Listen to the last stanza. The way ahead is long and hard/So learn some poems for the road/Or better, take along a bard/To tell us stories as we go. Moving stuff, eh? I should read more poetry. Really gets the blood moving around the body. Makes one feel pure, and intelligent. Where are you going?”

“I’ve got homework to do before tomorrow.”

“Suit yourself.”

Effie went through the rest of the evening in a daze. She ate her vegetable stew without really tasting it. Cait had made apple pie and custard for dessert, but Effie didn’t really feel like any.