Lady Sheringham was doing her best to convince her small daughter to wear the dress she had picked out for her, which was delightful, but Lyra was having none of it, adamant that 'wild horses and drink couldn't persuade me!' As she was only seven, this was probably something she had picked up from her father, who would probably be completely unapologetic, but Hero would not really blame him, as she didn't much blame him for anything. As she was now in her late twenties, she could be expected to be motherly, but sometimes girlish tastes flared up within what she wished her darling daughter to wear. Lyra staunchly refused, and her only reason was that it was a horrid shade of pink in the pattern. Hero personally thought it rather sweet, but what was one to do with such a outspoken girl?