A less prudent woman might have noted both that, without training of any sort, Mr. Fisk oughtn't be in his current post and that, strictly speaking, he outranked his chief. So too might Nora, were she to recount the tale to Mrs. Skeeter later. For now, though, neither button was apt to get the witch she wanted if pressed, and his good humour was not lost on her. The tide, it seemed, was turning in her favour.

"Could he not be mollified with solemn promises that we will stay quite far out of the way?" Elinor replied, a smile forming on her own lips. "I am happy, too, to reassure him of the quality of my shield charm, and I doubt he would be apt to question your own skill!"