After what must have seemed like ages, the cart finally came to a halt. They had reached a farmstead, although Abi might not be able to make out much of it in the dark, other than the front of the house, lit by a lantern by the door and the glow of a fire coming from within. The core of the house was made of grey, bleak stone and seemed at least two centuries old, but on the right, a single floor attachment had been built up against it, which looked much newer, its windows larger and more elegant than the small, paneled windows of the main house. The older, main part consisted of two floors, not counting the attic, but did not seem very large in surface. Behind it, however, lay the shadows of other buildings, which Abi could probably barely make out in the clouded night.

Tobias hopped down, opened the gate and led the horses and cart in. Then he helped Alice down. "Show t' cook..." he looked at Abi "Will Abi do?" he asked her, not waiting for an answer before turning back to Alice: "... Show her in and tell Jenny to take her things up to her room. Have yer dinner already, so you can go to bed after."

Alice merely nodded, before turning to Abi. "This way," she said in a voice that, though not hostile, did not sound particularly friendly or welcoming either. If Abi took her things and followed, Alice led her into the house, while Tobias led the horses and cart away.

The inside of the house seemed even more haphazardly collected than the outside. There was no hallway - rather, one stepped immediately into a large room. Although there was a grand fireplace on one side, and a fire was burning merrily, the room seemed dark, its wall boards covered with a dark green wallpaper, which came off in some corners to hint neglect. There were two matching lighter green sofas by the fire, but the wooden arm chair, deprived of any upholstery, looked old and worn and rudely disrupted the harmony of the prior. On the other side of the room was a dark wooden table with several upholstered chairs, suggesting that this room functioned both as drawing room and as dining room. There were several drawers with china plates and cups, as well as several bookshelves with old leather-bound books, interspersed by newer, cheap station editions, once again creating a topsy-turvy appearance. On the right there was a door, and on the left a straight staircase. The air in the room was thick with the smell of the hearth fire and the enduring stink of burnt tallow from candles, although none burned now.

As soon as they entered, a young girl of about thirteen, dressed in a black dress and white apron, came through the door on the right. The smell of food that trailed behind her as she opened the door betrayed that the newer part of the house was the kitchen. "I was beginnin' to worry, ma'm!" she said. "I'll have yer soup heated in a moment." Her face was round, and her small nose somewhat flat. Her sandy blonde hair was tied in a long loose braid. Small blue eyes landed on Abi curiously.

"Jenny, this is our new cook, Miss Kildare..." said Alice, blushing a little as she spoke with a light tremor in her voice. She turned to Abi. "This is Jenny. She's our maid. She'll assist ye where ye need it..."