Oh how delightful! Mr. Meijer was in York and wouldn't be back until tomorrow! And that terribly unpleasant woman, Miss Meijer was staying with a friend somewhere in Edinburgh and wouldn't be home for a full week. It wasn't her birthday, but it certainly felt that way. She felt so much more at ease when they were not around, and there was so much less work to do. It had been alright with just Mr. Meijer, who spent a lot of time in York. But Miss Meijer seemed to have moved in permanently and though Rose wouldn't have considered it possible before, she was worse than Mr. Meijer. Oh what a delightful break!

Rose knew she should go to bed, but she wasn't tired yet. Instead, she walked around the house, pretending she was a wealthy woman, ordering servants around, and all these rooms were hers. She owned a house with electric lighting. It continued to fascinate her. Rose stood still at the entrance of every room and switched the light on. And off. And on. And off. What a wonderful invention it was! She moved to the next room, and continue the same, delighted. And on and on.

And then she heard the key turn in the keyhole and she jumped. Rose rushed to the entrance hall, looking straight into Mr. Meijer's sour face with horror. Rose felt flutters of fear in her stomach. Mr. Meijer's displeased expressions were the stuff nightmares were made of. "Welcome home, ser. I didn't expect ye back until tomorrow, or I would have put a fire on in the drawin' room. Can I get ye owt?"