River's eyes flick sideways, under the straggling poof of her upswept hair, and back to the ground. Her head inclined, her feet together: deliberate, and just so.

"Sorry, mum."

That's not River's accent. It's halfway between the teacher's and a Dyton Colony accent -- Cockney, in other words, or close to it.

These aren't River's mannerisms, either.

"Came out for herbs, mum, and I got mixed up. The young miss pointed me right, mum. Didn't mean to make trouble."