Book the Second, Chapter the Eleventh: A Lengthy Trek

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Forgive me," says Eliza. "My humours are sometimes turbulent."

"I quite understand. My own lady wife . . . but no matter. Tell me, are we to have a glimpse of this remarkable beast? I fancy myself an amateur naturalist. You see, I was studying the pattern of granitic intrusions in this area through this spyglass . . ."

He goes on in similar, if not very interesting, fashion.

[Mr. Handy]

"I know not if it is venomous," says Henry, "but it has the most curious ability to ignite fires. You may see it if you wish. A servant is carrying it."

[jp1885]

After grinning what he hopes is a reassuring grin to Eliza, Lepus turns to Sophia and waggles an admonishing (and somewhat grubby) finger.

“Ah, polite girls answer questions properly, yesno? Your imaginary friend is a friend to you still. Old Lepus sees her plain as day.”

He turns to the second girl, making to prod her shoulder gently.

“This one here, yesno?”

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"I know not if it is venomous," says Henry, "but it has the most curious ability to ignite fires. You may see it if you wish. A servant is carrying it."

"Indeed? Most remarkable. Bring forth this extraordinary creature."

Whilst Mr. Allen is most interested, at hearing Doctor North's words Mrs. Allen trembles visibly and moves away.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After grinning what he hopes is a reassuring grin to Eliza, Lepus turns to Sophia and waggles an admonishing (and somewhat grubby) finger.

“Ah, polite girls answer questions properly, yesno? Your imaginary friend is a friend to you still. Old Lepus sees her plain as day.”

He turns to the second girl, making to prod her shoulder gently.

“This one here, yesno?”

Sophia grows quite pale, raising her gloved hand to her mouth and opening her eyes wide. Without making answer, she turns away, lowering her parasol so as to nearly hide her countenance from any onlookers. Simultaneously, the other young lady, with a slight smile reminiscent of an obscure painting, now in the possession of the tyrant Bonaparte, and little known save to those who have an interest in the minutiae of Renaissance art, follows her (assumed) sister, but without any sign of disturbance.

[SunlessNick]

Eliza tries to keep her eyes on all parties, unsure whether her senses have cleared or been addled by the change in her perception. "I believe it is some manner of reptile, yesno?" she says, trying to keep the attention of the Allens away from what Lepus is doing. "It's discovery is a remarkable circumstance in itself."

[jp1885]

Not wishing to upset Sophia and her ‘sister’, Lepus advances no further.

“‘tis fine young lady: I myself have friends and cousins that no-one else can see. Mayhap I will ask one to fetch your ball, then you will see that there be no shame in having a special sister.”

The hedge wizard requests that his invisible servant fetches the ball dropped by Sophia and return it to her (in such a way as to keep the act hidden from her parents).

[Mr. Handy]

Henry has the reptile brought forward and shows it to Mr. Allen. "It is indeed a reptile, and we've devised this container to keep the heat inside," he explains. "We must be careful with it, lest it start a blaze. It resembles the sorts of lizards that can be found in the American Southwest, which begs the question of how it came to be here."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Observing the invisible servant retrieve the ball, Sophia grows visibly agitated, dropping her parasol and gasping.

Spoiler:

d20

A moment later, her eyes roll up until only the whites are visible, and she collapses to the ground. It may be noted, by those able to perceive the other girl, that she shows no signs of disturbance, although she fades from sight at the moment Sophia becomes insensate. Mr. Allen, engrossed in examination of the animal, is at first unaware of the situation. Mrs. Allen, on the other hand, rushes over to Sophia, drops to her knees, and lifts her head.

"No, no, I cannot lose you also!"

Her distress is lessened somewhat when it becomes obvious that the girl still possesses signs of life, but she remains upset.

Mr. Allen, now fully cognizant of the situation, seems unsure how to act.

"What's this? What's this?"

[jp1885]

Alarmed, Lepus shambles back sharply.

“The poor child became alarmed by my japes and trickery,” he explains.

“Mayhap my gambols were too much for her. Henry, can you administer smelling salts, pray?”

While the others administer to the child, the wanderer opens his senses to see if the ‘sister’s’ presence still lingers.

[Mr. Handy]

"Of course," says Henry, rushing to the child's side with his medical bag to help her. "I am a physician, and I'll do my best to help."

[SunlessNick]

Not wanting to crowd the child further, Eliza keeps an eye on the reptile.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Alarmed, Lepus shambles back sharply.

“The poor child became alarmed by my japes and trickery,” he explains.

“Mayhap my gambols were too much for her. Henry, can you administer smelling salts, pray?”

While the others administer to the child, the wanderer opens his senses to see if the ‘sister’s’ presence still lingers.

The second girl reappears only when Sophia has fully regained her senses. She still seems unperturbed.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Of course," says Henry, rushing to the child's side with his medical bag to help her. "I am a physician, and I'll do my best to help."

Once the young lady is restored, and Mrs. Allen becomes aware of Doctor North's profession, she makes an impassioned inquiry.

"Tell me, My Lord, is it true that exposure to cow pox protects one from . . ." She seems to shudder as she says the next word "small pox? Oh, how many innocent young lives would be saved if it only be true!"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Not wanting to crowd the child further, Eliza keeps an eye on the reptile.

Frustrated by its imprisonment, the creature begins to produce dark smoke from the curious formations on its skin.

[jp1885]

"Mayhap yon second girl is the spirit of the departed sister, whose passing grieves the mother so.." Lepus muses. He reaches out with his mind in an attempt to make contact.

"Oh spirit, if that is what thou art, I bid thee greeting."

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, that is true," says Henry. "If you have been exposed to cow pox, you need not fear...the other disease."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Spoiler:

d20

Doctor North and Ivan may be surprised to perceive that Sophia's (assumed) sister fades entirely away, as she did when Sophia fainted, and does not reappear.

Having successfully made contact with the spirit, she is fully visible to you, but no longer to your companions. In point of fact, seeing that you are Desired by the Dead, she now stands close to your side, wheresoever you may go, although she does not otherwise attempt to communicate. Whether this silence is inherent to her, or a matter of her choice, is undetermined.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Yes, that is true," says Henry. "If you have been exposed to cow pox, you need not fear...the other disease."

"Thanks be to Heaven for small mercies," Mrs. Allen replies, "although it be too late for some. Too late, too late!"

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Meanwhile, the cloud of smoke from the creature grows thicker and denser, producing a sulfuric odor and causing those standing too close to choke on the fumes.