"Newly arrived," she tells him, topping off her own cup and delicately breaking a piece off a biscuit of her own. "Although it is a bit difficult to get my bearings on how time works here... still, I should say I arrived only a day ago or so. I think it's absolutely fascinating."

She smiles at him; Abigail Pent is pretty well charmed, herself. What a polite man! "You must have a wealth of stories from your time here. Could I coax one or two favorites from you?"