"**Ear-ly one morning,
Just as the sun was ri-sing,
I heard a maid s-i-ng,
In the va-l-ley below....**"

I sang, walking chamber to chamber, removing bedding for the washing. Some of these beds aren't used anymore.

"**hmm-hmm-hmm hum hmmmm...**" Off to the attic with it all, wash wash wash, it's what we do, day in day out.

"**I had a lit-tle pony,
His name was Dap-ple Grey,
I lent him to a la-dy,
To ride a mile aw-ay...**"

Sometimes when I clean the chambers out, I wonder where Victor went, if he would ever come back. I wonder if things will get better, now that he's away. Oh, well, plunge into the water, rack-tat-thwack against the board. Wash them all good, white, pure and clean!

"**They that wash on Mon-day
Have all the week to dry;
They that wash on Tue-s-day
Are not so much awry...***"

I carried the wet bedding to the back yard, hang it all to dry! I love the white sheets, blowing in the wind. I dance through them as I grab the basket, back to the house!

"**hmm, hmm, hmm-de-dum...**"

I walk through the kitchen, see Patience sobbing. I frowned. She's always bothered by something. Mary's close by, no doubt. Oh well with them. I have work to do, and I won't be saddened by their latest misery!

I skip through the kitchen and down the hallway to the stairs, waving at the lady of the house as I do so. She always looks so fancy! She nods in reply, a little smile.

I stare out at them breifly from the banister above. She leaves quickly. He looks so meloncally. A good breakfast would cheer him up, it's still early. I go back down the stairs to the kitchen and grab my shawl and small basket by the door to leave the house. I'll fetch him some berries from the gardens, that would cheer him up!

"**If I had a penny,
A bright new penny,
I'd take my penny
To the market square...**"