After bringing home her coal, Amelia, much to Brianne's relief, opted not to stay home and spread cabin fever among the other children. She dropped off the bag and promptly walked back outside.

"Get back here before it gets dark, you, or I'll not be sending anyone off looking for you," Brianne called after her.

"I know, I know," Amelia said to the door as it closed. She hopped into the snow once more, leaving a satisfying set of footprints ankle-deep. Not quite sure where she wanted to go, she simply walked in the direction she'd landed. She didn't realize until she'd been wandering a ways that she was right in front of the bookstore.
"I doubt you have, I live over at the—down that way." She jerked her head. "Where do you live?"
"Over by the bookstore, only I don't get out very much."

Amelia turned to look at the row of equally depressing-looking houses that lined the curb across the street. There was practically no way of telling which one was Johanna's, a thought that made her surprisingly sad. Had these been houses like the ones near where she lived, she'd have not thought twice about going door to door until she found her new friend. This was town, though, an entirely different story—and she had no desire to cross paths with that temperamental man again. Amelia shuddered at the thought of that cane. How could anyone stand living with someone so strict? She gave the street a final once-over before turning to go, nearly bowling over a ragged-looking woman.

"I'm so sorry!" she exhaled loudly. "That makes twice today, too, first Johanna and now you…"

The woman gave her a strange look and swayed in place, slightly to Amelia's alarm. "Johanna?"

"Yes, I ran into another girl today by that name. Supposedly she lives around here."
Amelia watched her blink several times before slowly pointing to a cobalt-colored establishment about two houses down from where they stood.

"Is that where she lives?"
There was a moment's pause, during which the woman simply blinked a bit more and walked away as if nothing had happened.

"How strange." Amelia stood awkwardly by herself at the lamppost before deciding there was no harm in at least looking at the house a little closer. She crossed the street and situated herself at the gate. Most of the curtains were drawn across the windows. Amelia wondered if perhaps the weather was getting to some people, as she couldn't imagine a more miserable-looking residence.

"It's you!"

Shocked, Amelia leapt backwards as though a spider had appeared. She glanced around before realizing that the voice was coming from above her. So the woman had been right—Johanna was there in the only open window. She leaned over the sill.

"How on earth did you find out where I lived?" there was an air of admiration in her voice.

"I got lucky," Amelia called. Johanna's eyes widened.

"You have to be quiet! If Judge Turpin hears you, we're both done for."

"Would you like me to leave?" Amelia politely backed up a few more steps and toed the ground lightly.

"No, no! Don't go." Johanna leaned out further and seemed to analyze the house directly under her. "See that ledge there? Could you get up onto it?"

"Of course." Amelia, despite Brianne's disapproval, found much enjoyment from climbing the trees out in the back of the orphanage and promptly stepped over the gate.

"Just don't make any noise…don't go too fast if you think you might fall."

"You're the one who's going to fall, you ought to get back inside a bit more," Amelia looked up as she swung one leg onto the ledge. Johanna retreated into the window a little more, but kept watching as Amelia scaled the wall.

"Where'd you learn to climb like that?" she asked in awe as Amelia came face to face with her, grasping the sill.

"There're a lot of trees around my house." She motioned for Johanna to step back and slid into the room on her stomach. There was a minor thump as she came into contact with the ground, and they both froze. No one else in the house seemed to hear, and Amelia slowly stood back up.

"Think anyone heard?"

"I think if they had, we'd have heard them." Johanna listened a bit longer then nodded as if to say they weren't in any danger of being caught.

"Who else lives here?" She cocked her head.

"That awful judge," Johanna whispered. "And his beadle might as well too, but he's only here most of the time."

"Where's your mother at?" Amelia asked before she could stop herself.

"She's been dead since I was born." Johanna said it as though she'd been saying it her whole life, and the concept was nothing new. "And my father left her, supposedly."

"That's terrible," Amelia said softly. "I've no idea what happened to mine, Brianne just tells me I got dropped off one day by someone who hadn't even named me."

"Brianne?"

"She's the one who runs the orphanage," Amelia explained. "I don't even remember getting there, I was hardly a day old."

"What did you end up being named?" Johanna paused, then giggled. "I'm sorry. We've met twice today and I don't even know your name."

"Oh! Yes, sorry. I'm Amelia." She shyly put her hands behind her back.

"And you're from that orphanage down there?" Johanna motioned in the general direction.

"That's why I was so surprised we ended up talking." She smiled at the ground. "Most people like you don't associate with people like me."

"I'm not allowed to associate with anyone—and besides, you're so much more interesting with the people I see every day." Johanna sat on her bed. "I've got no problem talking to most people I meet, even though the judge seems to think anyone he doesn't know is beneath me." She shrugged.

"How come he's so strict?" Amelia came nearer the bed, and Johanna made room for her to sit.

"I've no idea, but I don't even go to school. Everything I learn comes from books he gives me, and I'm usually locked up here with these two." She gestured to a birdcage with two inhabitants. "I get so bored, sometimes I make up songs about them."

"Don't you ever go outside?" Amelia asked incredulously. Johanna shook her head.

"I'd go mad living here," she said finally. She rose and casually walked around the room, observing Johanna's clothes and mirror. "You have a lot of pretty things, though."

"They're usually the judge's way of keeping me occupied," Johanna sighed, walking over and picking up her brush. She paused a moment before running it through Amelia's hair.

"Ow!" she winced. "That hurts!"

"Well, yes, your hair's frightfully tangled." Johanna struggled with the brush until it went smoothly. "It's lovely, by the way."

"The tangles?"

"No," Johanna giggled. "Your hair. I've always wanted hair that brown."

"We should swap, then." Amelia smiled. "The first thing I thought when I met you was how you'd got the color hair I wish I had."

"You want yellow hair?" Johanna looked at Amelia through the window. "It's quite boring, at least to me. If it were up to me, you could keep it."

"Don't all the young men you meet love it, though?" At this, Johanna again looked slightly sad.

"Definitely no young men. I think it's the judge's will that I never, ever talk to any male under the age of…however old he is…a thousand."

Amelia laughed. "You're terrible!"

Johanna smiled before also laughing. "I am, aren't I? Forgive me, that was cruel." She looked as though she were about to keep talking, but stopped suddenly. "Don't move."

"Why?"

Johanna motioned for her to stay quiet, and listened. There were definitely footsteps coming up the stairs. Both girls' eyes widened.

"You have to leave." Johanna rushed to the window and looked down. "I'd have you hide, but I've no idea what he wants, and if he were in here long enough he'd find you, I'm sure of it—quick, get out through the window!" The footsteps came nearer and Amelia panicked inwardly.

"Will I be able to come and see you again?" she interrupted suddenly.

"Oh, you have to." Johanna looked shocked. "It'd be terrible if you didn't—look, come by tomorrow, I'll wait right here by the window where I can see you. If it's safe, I'll have you come up. And I'll try and find someplace for you to hide—just in case. I'd just hate for—Amelia, get over the window!" She suddenly pushed her towards the sill, as the door was being unlocked.

Amelia swung her feet over the ledge and turned to wave to Johanna, but lost her balance and slid down the side of the house until she hit the ridge a few feet down. She could hear Johanna talking as though nothing had happened, and found herself wondering if she'd be all right. Amelia lowered one foot down but miscalculated the distance and practically flew the remaining few feet. She unearthed herself from the snow she was now imprinted in.

"All right, there?"

She shook snow off her hair and realized her nose was nearly touching a pair of black boots. Quickly, she stood up and brushed herself.

"Still graceful, I see." The voice teased lightly. Amelia looked up—and up.

"Anthony!"

How'd that happen?