Olivia could tell he enjoyed pushing the townspeople’s buttons and couldn’t fault him for having a bit of fun, “I don’t think I’ll have enough room to accommodate everyone tomorrow, thanks to you.” Regretting it was the end of the meal, she looked forward to enjoying his company again. Ushering the girls from the restaurant, they collected study materials and headed upstairs. Tomorrow was a big day. Outfits prepared and laid out, they slept heavily, still recovering from the long journey. Coffee a thoughtful gesture from Mabel the next morning, Olivia sipped cups while working to dress appropriately, Black skirt with a moderate bustle, long sleeved high necked blouse and hair in a large bun, encased in black netting. A small brooch from Samuel, her dear brother, affixed at the throat for good luck. Nieces wearing frocks, Daisy in her favorite yellow and Anna in her comfortable blue. They looked neat and polished when they left the hotel.<br/><br/>As anticipated, girls and boys filled into the small schoolhouse, excited to start lessons. Their fresh faces, looking curiously at Daisy and Anna who were just as curious, looking back. A total of fifteen students, a mixture of town and country children, between seven and thirteen years old. The day was spent getting to know each child and their academic background. School days would be daily except weekends and broken by two short breaks and a longer break for lunch. Many of the country children brought small tin pails packed with lunch, the walk to and from home too far to travel. Easily, the students Olivia enjoyed the most were the country children, less involved in jostling for status in the town’s social hierarchy. Mayor Ambrose Sutton’s children, Elizabeth and William, were in attendance and it wasn’t surprising when the man himself made an appearance. Waiting for a moment to speak with her, he magnanimously disclosed the City Council’s decision to include in her contract a house nearby (if the scandal of their school teacher living in a hotel got out, it would reflect badly on the town’s reputation). It was ready for them to move in this afternoon. Graciously thanking him, Olivia made a mental note to share the news with Mr. Walker.<br/><br/>Allowing her nieces some independent time to mingle with other children at lunch, Olivia stepped away to grab something to eat from the hotel and to find Mr. Walker. In Boston, she’d never had a reason to learn the location of the police station and curiosity motivated her to step into the Jail, looking for him. That evening might be the last time they would have dinner together until the new home was ready to receive visitors.