Dawn came at last, and the rim of a yellow-coloured sun rose up behind the rooftops somewhere behind Victoria Station.
Sophie felt a little of its warmth on her back and was grateful.
How much longer, she wondered.
What time do queens wake up?
Oh, oh dear!
It's working.
Oh, goodness.
It starts to work.
Oh, no, no.
Don't.
Somebody stop them.
Don't let them do it.
I can't bear it.
Oh, please.
Stop them.
It's horrible.
It's disgusting.
Dear me.
It's every bit as bad as I imagined it would be.
Oh, someone's coming into the room.
Good morning, Your Majesty.
Will you have your tray on the bed, ma'am, or on the table?
Oh, Mary.
Something awful has just happened.
Whatever is it? dream.
It was a nightmare.
It was awful.
Oh, I am sorry, ma'am, but don't be distressed.
You're awake now and it will go away.
It was only a dream, ma'am.
You know what I dreamt, Mary.
No, ma'am.
I dreamt that girls and boys were being snatched out of their beds at boarding school.
Out of their beds, ma'am?
Out of their beds, Mary, and were being eaten by the most ghastly giants.
Giants, ma'am?
Giants, Mary, that's what I said.
Goodness gracious.
The giants were putting their arms in through the dormitory windows and plucking the children out with their fingers.
With their fingers, ma'am?
Yes, Mary, please don't interrupt.
One lot from a girls' school and another from a boys' school.
It was all so, so vivid, Mary.
It was so real.
You're awfully quiet, Mary.
What on earth's the matter?
I... Mary, you're as white as a sheet.
Are you feeling ill?
I... Don't... There goes the tree, Mum.
Mary.
Mary, I think you'd better sit down at once.
You look as though you're going to faint.
You really mustn't take it so hard, just because I've had an awful dream.
No, that isn't the reason, ma'am.
Then for heaven's sake, what is the reason?
I'm very sorry about the tray, ma'am.
Oh, don't worry about the tray.
But what on earth was it that made you drop it?
Why did you go white as a ghost all of a sudden?
You haven't seen the papers yet, ma'am.
No, Mary, I've just woken up.
What do they say?
Here, ma'am.
Ah, good times.
I say, what a lot of writing.
Take a look, ma'am.
It's like the very dream you had in the night, ma'am.
Oh, rubbish, Mary.
Where is it?
On the front, ma'am.
It's the big headline.
Queen Scott!
Eighteen girls!
Eighteen girls!
Vanish mysteriously from their beds at Rodine School.
From Rodine School, ma'am.
That's what I said, Mary.
Oh, oh, oh.
And 14 boys disappear from Eton.
From Eton, ma'am, imagine.
Bones are found underneath dormitory windows.
Bones, ma'am, under the windows.
Oh, how ghastly.
How ghastly.
It's absolutely frightful.
Bones under the windows.
What could have happened?
Oh, those poor children.
But, ma'am.
What is it, Mary?
Don't you see, ma'am?
See what, Mary?
Those children were taken away almost exactly as you dreamt it, ma'am.
Not by giants, Mary.
Oh, no, no, ma'am.
But the bit about the girls and boys disappearing from their dormitories.
You dreamt it so clearly that it actually happened.
That's why I came over all queer, ma'am.
Oh, I'm coming over a bit queer myself, Mary.
It gives me the shakes, ma'am, when something like this happens.
It really does.
Bones, ma'am.
Under the windows.
Yes, Mary, I don't blame you.
I shall get you some more breakfast, ma'am, and have all this mess cleaned up.
No, no, don't go, Mary.
Stay here a moment.
Very well, ma'am.
I really did dream about those children, Mary.
It was as clear as crystal.
I'm sure it was, ma'am.
As clear as... I don't know how giants got into it.
No, ma'am, the giants were a bit... Far-fetched, Mary.
Of course.
Ma'am, you have such a fertile imagination.
Yes, thank you, Mary.
You're welcome, ma'am.
Shall I draw the curtains?
Then we shall both feel better.
It's a lovely day.
Please do.
Scott, what's that?
It's a...
It's a girl, Mum.
I can see it's a girl, Mary.
What's she doing on my window ledge?
I really can't imagine, Mum.
I really am coming over a bit queer now.
Now listen here, young lady.
Did you get into this room?
I don't believe it.
I simply don't believe it.
Take her out, Mum.
No, Mary, don't do that.
Oh, very well, ma'am.
I won't take her out.
I just... I just... Are you all right, ma'am?
You look... well, not quite yourself.
Tell me Mary, tell me quite truthfully is there really a little girl sitting on my windowsill, or am I still dreaming?
She's sitting there, ma'am, as clear as daylight.
Your Majesty is certainly not dreaming at this time.
But...
That's exactly what I did dream.
I dreamt that as well.
I dreamt there would be a little girl sitting on my windowsill in her nightie and she would talk to me.
Oh, heavens, ma'am.
Oh, mercy.
Oh, dearie, dearie, dearie.
In her nightie, ma'am.
I really don't know what to say, ma'am.
Pull yourself together, Mary.
Yes, ma'am.
