Jennifer resolutely presses her lips together to keep from joining in and having a giggle at Aglet's expense. Once she's certain she can speak without laughing, she says, "He does have an Aunt Euphony. He's been living with her since his parents were killed by cats."

That sobering fact helps dismiss the urge to laugh, and she occupies herself with setting her bag on the ground. It's not much, just large enough to hold some plastic bags (to pick up the piles of ball bearings the Beast tends to leave behind) and a few sundry bits of metal she could use as distractions or rewards for good behavior. But it has an extra outer pocket with a flap over it - just the sort of thing for a Borrower to ride along in without being spotted or feeling too exposed. Whether she'll be able to persuade Aglet to actually use it remains to be seen.

"Pop yourself in there, then," she advises, unbuttoning the flap and lifting it so Andrew can climb aboard.