"I'm flattered, but we hardly know one another," Freddie replies, some confusing place between blithe and just dismissive that makes it difficult to tell whether she's joking. "And it was a mediocre meeting. Thoroughly average, which is of course no good at all, is it? One must be excellent, or nothing at all!" She flourishes a fist and again, it's hard to say if this is in earnest or parody of inspirational mottos.

Either way, she keeps moving, setting a brisk pace toward the higher sections of Hightown. (They are, at present, onlyin one of the low middle sections of Hightown.)

"Meetings are so tedious, and a dreadful waste of time anyway. Going and asking is so gauche. Instead, we shall make them come to us."

As they round a corner toward the high street shopping district, she finally turns enough to spot Bellamy's face. "Oh, hello. Sir Spindleweed."