An odd-looking, haggard and dirty stranger came and sat close by to her. He was still munching on some large chunk of meat - chopped up and placed on a long pointy stick. Personally she preferred vegetables, and roasted cheese, but that was not the way one struck up conversation usually. "By the way, I don't eat what you're eating ..."

So she continued to knit, the scarf now decent enough to be as tall as her. Her lips pursed she kept glancing to him, then to the bard, and then back to her creation, the sun streaming in from the large window beside them. They were both caught in the glint of the light, the warmth of the afternoon glory. The bard came to the end of his current tune, ending on a brilliant note. There was a pause before he nodded and stood to bow, and there was a wave of applause.

Celandine knew what to do on this occasion. Her governess had taught her well. Quickly she placed down her knitting to join in with the thunder of hands. As she did however her ball of wool slipped free. It rolled away from her before she could react, freewheeling like a tumbleweed in the wind, and unravelled itself towards the meat-chewing human. With a small gasp she got up and chased after it - but it was too late.

The rainbow wool bumped against his foot. The young woman, looking only just old and mature enough to be in amongst this crowd drew up, eyes wide and utterly appalled.

"Sorry!" She gushed. "Sorry!"