Ginny felt her cheeks flush at his compliment. Did Mr. Podmore intend to have this effect on her, or was he merely oblivious, even careless, as to their situation?

“I should be grateful indeed not to have to parade about again,” she replied, glancing away fleetingly to regain her composure, “though I do not think your patients—nor my brother—would thank you for such a trade. Besides, I never did take my NEWTs! No, Mr. Podmore,” Virginia concluded with a wry smile, “I think we are best in our current roles, however taxing we might find them.”