tay here forever.”

    “ t forever. Unfortunately, t. Lyra, it  be long—a couple of years at most—before you  a co live in then.”

    “But its my home!”

    “It  nohing else.”

    “Not sc going to school.”

    “You need female company. Female guidance.”

    ted female Sco Lyra, and sarily made a face. to be exiled from ts sco a dingy brick-built boarding t dinner! ter sa eyes flash red.

    suppose it er?”

    Instantly Pantalaimons fur co downy we. Lyras eyes widened.

    “Really?”

    “Sed er  you, s once to er, by the way; she is a widow.

    some years ago; so you mig in mind before you ask.”

    Lyra nodded eagerly, and said, “And so...look after me?”

    “ould you like t?”

    “Yes!”

    S still. ter smiled.   of practice, and anyone c in a state to notice) would  was a grimace of sadness.

    “ell, er ask o talk about it,” he said.

    te later er, Lyra oo excited to sit. Mrs. Coulter smiled, and e teeto ter touc a current of o her, and blushed.

    er o ant, am I?”

    “Yes,” said Lyra simply. So anything.

    “t of work I need h.”

    “I can work!”

    “And ravel.”

    “I dont mind. Id go anywhere.”

    “But it mig o go to th.”

    Lyra was speechen she found her voice: “Soon?”

    Mrs. Coulter laug you knoics, and navigation, and celestial geography.”

    “ill you teach me?”

    “Yes. And youll o es and putting my papers in order and doing various pieces of basic calculation, and so