Caitir's expression at Lirssa's arrival said it all. The little girl had been in the parlor practicing her harp when Lirssa walked in to High Spires House. The front yard had been empty, but that was to be expected at the time of day when she called. Chores had to be done, errands run, and those that took lessons outside of the house were practicing.

It was the lessons of some of the children Lirssa had come to visit. "Yah look awful, Lirssa." The angelic expression she had when she played gave way to confusion.

"Thanks, Caitir," Lirssa shrugged it off. She knew she did not look like she used to, but she washed her face and hands every day and the rest of her and her clothes when she got a chance - that had not happened recently. "Your playing sounds fine. Still likin' it?"

Smile of starlight, the little girl nodded sending long curls to swinging. "Oh, yes. Mrs. Sianna is ever so wonderful. Have you heard her sing" She's just like an angel."

Lirssa didn't hold much with angels, at least, not the ones that Caitir swore she had heard while she slept the night Lirssa found her. Still, she smiled and nodded. "I'm glad. Glad also that your arrangement with the Smiths is an odd one. I've come to talk with some of the kids about their lessons."

"Why?"

Lirssa winced a little. She'd never outright lied to any of the kids. Best way to get them to trust her was to talk straight from the start if ever she could. There may have been some sugar coating, as Mrs June would have put it, from time to time, but not plain lied. "Well, fact is, I'm just not earning as much as she did before. The coins are not coming in like they used to. I guess folk just expect me to be able to do the tumblin' I can do. It isn't unusual anymore like when I was little."

With a gasp and shake of her head, "Oh, no Lirssa, that can't be it. I've seen you perform. You had tons of people there."

It had been true at one time. There was a time when Lirssa could juggle and tumble her way to a pretty income that helped buy things for others and herself. She walked the edge of the parlor, playing with the ornamental pieces, knickknacks, and such. Figurines were turned a little to make a scene. "Well, the aren't there now, or keepin' their coin close. However it is, until I can think of somethin new to draw the crowds back, I'm gonna have to cut some of the lessons."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Caitir looked forlornly to her harp.

The way Lirssa had worked out her income was that performances paid for lessons. Things were close. It was up to her to face the fact that someone, or a couple of someones, were going to have to give up their lessons.

Caitir was not going to have to be one of those. The arrangement was an odd one, very little coin required in paying the boys to escort Caitir and help her with the instrument to the Smiths'. Val always escorted Caitir back, so that didn't cost a thing.

Val was an entirely different issue. She hadn't seen him in weeks, still wasn't sure how she felt about talking to him either, but one thing at a time. "Chin up, Caitir, you'll still have your lessons, and in time, I'll think of something." She opened a round music box, empty sage velvet inside. "So, Mrs June about?" She asked over the melody.

"In the kitchen," Caitir sat again and began to practice once more.

Letting the top of the music box drop, Lirssa nodded and turned for the kitchen. Caitir's playing seemed as if the music box had not stopped, and that gave Lirssa an idea. With a sly smile, she turned back to Caitir. "Say, you're getting really good at that."

Time for plotting and planning.