text: > look N
  You see nothing unexpected in that direction.
  
  > search the fairy tales
  Aha! There has surely been a nest here not too long ago: empty egg casings, thick froths of web, the husks of infant spiders devoured by their siblings. Alas, it's here no longer. But the exodus was not covert: a trail leads you to an old bricked-up chimney flue, spidery holes punctuating its rotten mortar.
  
  Soft moaning would suggest that Tawny Scraggley has been attacked by a Ruritanian Misanthrope spider.
  
  > examine flue
  This old chimney is probably where the spiders have made their nest. However, it was bricked up long ago, and the spiders must be getting in and out through the rotting mortar.
  
  Tiny sobs would suggest that Madison Codscrote has been poisoned by a Ruritanian Misanthrope spider.
  
  > examine the mortar
  This old chimney is probably where the spiders have made their nest. However, it was bricked up long ago, and the spiders must be getting in and out through the rotting mortar.
  
  A howl of agony would suggest that Mildred Chollop has been bitten by a Ruritanian Misanthrope spider.
  
  > take the mortar
  That's hardly portable.
  
  > take the brick
  That's hardly portable.
  
  A penetrating wail would suggest that Tawny Scraggley has been attacked by a Ruritanian Misanthrope spider.
  
  > break the mortar
  The mortar crumbles easily under the slightest impact, and you are able to tear down half the wall with your bare hands. Out tumble several mummified pigeons, a great deal of soot and brick dust, and a scattering of panicked spiders that are instantly stomped upon by gleeful orphans. The chimney's jagged mouth is revealed, ominous wisps of web leading up into darkness.
  
  > Search flue
  The short stretch of chimney that's visible from here doesn't seem to be the location of the nest, and you can neither reach nor see any further. Perhaps you might assign someone better-suited to this task.
  
  > assign Pepper to the flue
  You hand little Pepper a lantern, a spray-can of insecticide and a fortifying biscuit, then send her up the chimney with dire threats of what will happen if she returns without eradicating the spider nest. A hushed silence falls over the Orphanorium, broken only by the occasional squeal of agony.
  
  > assign Jacek to Bath
  You unceremoniously dunk Jacek Scound into the Delousing Bath, and command him to remain there until he has ceased to smell like a case of gangrene.
  
  > look at the flue
  From within the flue comes the sound of distant, constrained wriggling, and the occasional cascade of soot.
  
  > go north
  This ward is the home of children aged between six and twelve. A series of oddly-shaped rooms produced by ill-considered renovations, it's difficult to heat, the lighting is bad and there are far too many blind corners and hideaways. The Junior House lies south and the Senior north.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  Sadie, Percy, Ned and Edie are housed here.
  
  Molly, Griselda, Hubert and Tawny are busily occupied with the ancient tricycles.
  
  In a sudden explosion of soot and insecticide fumes, Pepper Grabble emerges from the fireplace. She is rather horribly bitten and has inhaled a considerable quantity of soot, neurotoxins and spider legs, but her triumph over the spiders is undeniable. The orphans give up a ragged cheer, Pepper gets a double helping of gruel at supper, a man is called in to brick up the chimney, and life in the Orphanorium returns to normal.
  
  > go south
  Here are housed the younger children, from the age of weaning to about six years old. Formerly a lumber-room, its ceilings are oppressively low. The Middle House is to the north.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  In one corner, piled up into a small mountain, are the many volumes of Polychromatic Lung's Fairy Tales.
  
  Pepper is housed here.
  
  Jacek is shedding parasites, encrustations and chunks of skin in My First Delousing Bath.
  
  > Status
  Griselda   mediocre     mediocre     adequate     poor
  Jim        mediocre     bad          mediocre     mediocre
  Gretchen   poor         mediocre     poor         poor
  Sadie      poor         awful        bad          mediocre
  Madison    poor         awful        bad          mediocre
  Ned        mediocre     mediocre     mediocre     poor
  Tawny      mediocre     adequate     poor         mediocre
  Hubert     mediocre     adequate     adequate     mediocre
  Molly      mediocre     bad          satisfactory mediocre
  Jacek      bad          bad          poor         mediocre
  Frannie    mediocre     satisfactory mediocre     adequate
  Pepper     abysmal      poor         bad          awful
  Percy      poor         mediocre     adequate     adequate
  Mildred    mediocre     adequate     mediocre     bad
  Cob        mediocre     mediocre     poor         mediocre
  
  > Discipline percy
  You apply some well-deserved discipline to Percy Dabney. His discipline is now adequate.
  
  > Go south
  Here are housed the younger children, from the age of weaning to about six years old. Formerly a lumber-room, its ceilings are oppressively low. The Middle House is to the north.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  In one corner, piled up into a small mountain, are the many volumes of Polychromatic Lung's Fairy Tales.
  
  Pepper and Jacek are shedding parasites, encrustations and chunks of skin in My First Delousing Bath.
  
  > discipline Pepper
  You apply some well-deserved discipline to Pepper Grabble. Her discipline is now bad.
  
  > discipline griselda
  You apply some well-deserved discipline to Griselda Much. Her discipline is now adequate.
  
  > scrub Sadie
  You seize Sadie, drag a comb through her hair, and make her walk around with a book on her head. This accomplished, you deliver a short lecture on the spiritual and bacterial dangers of filthiness. Hopefully the lesson is learned; her looks are now poor.
  
  > ring bell
  The ancient tricycles have fortified Griselda Much's vigour, which is now mediocre.
  The ancient tricycles have fortified Tawny Scraggley's vigour, which is now adequate.
  The ancient tricycles have fortified Hubert Dobson's vigour, which is now adequate.
  The ancient tricycles have fortified Molly Bogey's vigour, which is now bad.
  
  Gretchen Bloch attempted to escape, but failed to get past the Ruritanian Mastiffs.
  
  You receive a government stipend of 160 for the feeding and care of your orphans; and pay out 48 coins on necessary care and maintenance, most of it going on food.
  Your profligate meal plans have borne fruit: Griselda Much, Madison Codscrote and Tawny Scraggley have gained vigour, and Jim Tench, Tawny Scraggley, Hubert Dobson, Pepper Grabble and Mildred Chollop have improved their morale.
  
  Jim Tench has reached the age of maturity, and there is nothing more you can do. He is lost to gainful industry and to virtue, and promptly becomes a panhandler.
  Cob Froome has reached the age of maturity, and there is nothing more you can do. He is lost to gainful industry and to virtue, and promptly becomes a pirate.
  Edie Dillinger and Hubert Dobson have graduated to the Senior House. You have been awarded custody of three orphans of Junior House age: Alice Makane, Harriet Rostigraben and Beth Twitch.
  
  > go south
  Here are housed the younger children, from the age of weaning to about six years old. Formerly a lumber-room, its ceilings are oppressively low. The Middle House is to the north.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  In one corner, piled up into a small mountain, are the many volumes of Polychromatic Lung's Fairy Tales.
  
  Beth, Harriet and Alice are housed here.
  
  Pepper and Jacek are shedding parasites, encrustations and chunks of skin in My First Delousing Bath.
  
  A new task: The Malnutrition Games
  A number of forward-thinking administrators in the institutional guardianship sector are trying to put together a five-a-side streetball tournament. Team sports promote determination, local pride and contempt for the weak. On the other hand, you would need to field a team of five strong-limbed orphans of Senior House age; while matches are infrequent enough that they would still have time for regular activities, the risk of injury or escape should not be ignored. This opportunity may not present itself again, however.
  Do you want to compete in the tournament?
  
  > Go north
  This ward is the home of children aged between six and twelve. A series of oddly-shaped rooms produced by ill-considered renovations, it's difficult to heat, the lighting is bad and there are far too many blind corners and hideaways. The Junior House lies south and the Senior north.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  Sadie, Percy and Ned are housed here.
  
  Molly, Griselda and Tawny are busily occupied with the ancient tricycles.
  
  > Go north
  Here reside the oldest children, aged roughly twelve to fifteen. The largest, best-lit and airiest of the wards, its walls are decorated with inspiring murals. The Middle House lies to the south.
  
  The Box is installed in a remote sub-basement, but the way to it is well-known to the miscreant and lolligagger.
  
  A pack of savage Ruritanian Mastiffs patrol the grounds.
  
  Hubert, Edie, Frannie, Madison, Mildred and Gretchen are housed here.
  
  > Status
  Griselda   adequate     mediocre     adequate     poor
  Gretchen   poor         adequate     poor         poor
  Sadie      poor         abysmal      bad          mediocre
  Madison    mediocre     awful        poor         poor
  Ned        mediocre     poor         mediocre     poor
  Tawny      mediocre     adequate     bad          adequate
  Hubert     mediocre     mediocre     satisfactory mediocre
  Beth       awful        mediocre     bad          poor
  Molly      mediocre     poor         satisfactory mediocre
  Jacek      poor         abysmal      poor         mediocre
  Frannie    poor         satisfactory mediocre     mediocre
  Harriet    poor         poor         bad          mediocre
  Pepper     bad          mediocre     awful        bad
  Percy      mediocre     mediocre     adequate     adequate
  Mildred    mediocre     mediocre     mediocre     bad
  Alice      abysmal      poor         bad          poor
  
  > recruit Edie
  You inform Dillinger that she will be representing the Orphanorium in forthcoming games. Your team now comprises Bloch, Harris and Dillinger.
  
  > recruit Hubert
  You inform Dobson that he will be representing the Orphanorium in forthcoming games. Your team now comprises Bloch, Harris, Dillinger and Dobson.
  
  > recruit Frannie
  But Harris is already on the team roster.
  
  > recruit mildred
  You would be subject to endless ridicule from the other teams if you fielded a player as frail as Chollop.
  
  > recruit Gretchen
  But Bloch is already on the team roster.
  
  > recruit Madison
  You would be subject to endless ridicule from the other teams if you fielded a player as frail as Codscrote.
  
  > Status
  Griselda   mediocre     adequate     adequate     poor
  Gretchen   poor         adequate     mediocre     poor
  Sadie      poor         abysmal      poor         mediocre
  Madison    mediocre     bad          poor         mediocre
  Ned        mediocre     poor         mediocre     mediocre
  Tawny      mediocre     adequate     poor         mediocre
  Hubert     adequate     adequate     satisfactory adequate
  Beth       abysmal      mediocre     bad          poor
  Molly      adequate     poor         excellent    mediocre
  Jacek      bad          abysmal      poor         mediocre
  Frannie    mediocre     adequate     mediocre     mediocre
  Harriet    bad          bad          bad          mediocre
  Pepper     poor         poor         abysmal      bad
  Percy      adequate     poor         adequate     adequate
  Mildred    mediocre     mediocre     mediocre     awful
  Alice      abysmal      poor         bad          poor
  
  > buy the treadmill
  You reluctantly part with 400 coins, mail in your order, and in due course receive delivery of Atherton's Ergonomic Treadmill; it is installed in the Senior House.