Imogen felt her whole body tense at the suggestion. Of course, the witch supposed, she should have expected such a thing, but, naively, had assumed that the letter from the school would suffice.

After remaining quiet for a moment too long, Imogen offered carefully, "My family, Ma'am, they died a few years back."

She looked down at her hands before moving her gaze back to Mrs. Devine—or, more accurately, a space just beside her shoulder.

"What money I inherited I put into my time at Blishwick's. My attention, too," she gave a small shrug. "Everything's gone into bettering myself."

With any luck, Imogen thought, Mrs. Devine would take pity on her, would give her a probationary go. She knew it would be impudent to suggest it herself.