====Ella Arrives at the St. James Orphanage====
**Date:** 1869.08.22.19:45
**Location:** St. James Hotel and Orphanage
**Next Event:** [[AfterArrival After Arrival]] [[AttheTower At The Tower]]

<#kate: I realize lots happens before this event but I figured this was a good event to start for my character at least.  Jump in as you like... #>

During Sunday Dinner, there's a jingle at the hotel's front doorway that the children can hear from their seats around the table in the cramped servants' dining room.  Elizabeth holds up a single finger, keeping everyone at their place and noses in their meal.  Through the thin walls, they can hear the valet's bell chime, floor boards creak in reply, and then Mr. French's booming greeting.

"Bonsoir Monsieur Constable.  How may I be of service?"

"Evening, **Mr. French**" says a gruff voice.  "I have a new addition for you."

"Ah, so I see, so I see.  Would you wait one moment, and I will see if Madame Black is free?"

"Of course."

The floor groans under Mr. French's hurried stride.  The doorway to the main dining hall opens.

**Trying to suppress his booming voice to a whisper, and failing, Mr. French says,** "Pardon, Madame.  The Constable has brought a new charge for your care."

"Oh!  How marvelous."  Cutlery clatters against porcelain and a chair scrapes against the planks.  Mrs. Black's clunky heels stomp after Mr. French as they return to the Hotel foyer.

"Why, she's just a little mouse of a thing," says Mrs. Black.

"You'll take her?" asks the constable.

"Of course, of course, **what good Christian would turn away a child.**"

**"She was..." The constable begins, but Mrs. Black tut tuts him. "Never-mind that now, I'm sure that's all behind us."  Even over Mrs. Black you can hear Mr. French cracking his knuckles.**

"I'll leave her in your hands then.  Good evening, Ma'm. Mr. French."

"Good evening," says Mrs. Black.  

The front door jingles again.  

"Martin," says Mrs. Black, "go fetch Lizzy while I introduce myself to this little peach."

"Yes ma'am."  

Elizabeth rises from her seat at the end of the table.  She dabs at her lips with her napkin and tucks the cloth beneath her fork.  She turns to face the swinging door as Mr. French appears.  

He grins.  "Another one for you, Lizzy."

"So I heard."  She waves for him to head back outside, and casts a glance over her shoulder.  "I can hear everything," she says with her no nonsense glare.  Although aware of her kind nature, the children know all too well of the trouble they'll land in by misbehaving, especially at Sunday Dinner.   Seeing her warning landing home, Elizabeth follows Mr. French into the foyer.

She returns a few moments later, her hand on the slim shoulder of a dirt and ash stained girl wearing a similarly stained dress.  The girl has a single braid of wavy, raven hair and pads along on bare feet.  Elizabeth guides the newcomer around the table and through the side door.  The grind of the pump outside starts, encouraging a gush of water.

"Hands and face," says Lizzy.  "Then we'll get you something to eat."

The water's flow cuts off, and as promised the pair return to the servants' dining room.  Elizabeth guides the scrawny girl to the head of the table.  Despite the recent wash, the girl's skin remains light brown, like the color of sandy soil.  Fresh cuts and scrapes dot her face and neck, as well as the hands clutching the fabric of her dress.  The hem is ragged, with threads left dangling. 

Elizabeth puts both hands on the girl's shoulders.

"We have a new comer," says Elizabeth and looks at the girl expectantly.

The girl meets Elizabeth's gaze with a pair of wide, light blue eyes.

"Well, tell us your name, girl."

"It's Ella," says the girl in a strong, clear tone.

Elizabeth nods with satisfaction and turns to those at the table.

"Well, what's yours?" asks Ella.

Elizabeth's head swivels, her gaze locking with the young girl.  "Ms. Elizabeth Clarke," she says, "but you can call me Ms. Clarke."

Ella mimics Elizabeth's earlier nod. 

<#bill: Nicholas looks up from his plate meeting Ella's eye with a smile. "I'm Cole!" he calls cheerfully.#>

**OOG: not sure how to read the ! here Bill. Is Cole shouting?**

<#court: Jeanne has paused eating and is watching intently, but says nothing.  Her stare is not casual; its intensity makes it seem almost hostile.  #>

**Cal smiles and would respond with something along the lines of, "King Callahan, you can call me Cal." Ms. Lizzie would shoot him a look "Boy you anit the king of nothing."**

**"He's king of cleaning his plate," says Louis which Cal would smile at.**

**Ella is presented a seat and hot food.**

<#ann: "King of big mouths, maybe," she says with a small smile for him and for Ella.#>
 
<#kate: She grins back at Celeste. #>

<#jonah: Ollie giggles at that.#>

<#kate: Ella sits cautiously, and licks her lips looking at the food, taking in everyone with big, observant eyes. #>

**"All the better to eat seconds!" He says as he is presented with another round by Louis.**

<#kate: Her eyes go a little big at "seconds." #>

<#ann: Which widens Celeste's smile to a grin. "I'm Celeste".#>

<#court: Jeanne looks at Celeste and Ella and relaxes a little. She picks up the bread and passes Ella an extra piece, with a small smile for her and a grin for Celeste.#>

<#kate: "Hi...." She seems a little wary, not scared just uncertain. "Thanks," she says, taking the bread.#>

**Shawn hands her the butter. "Shawn." He adds with a smile.**

<#kate: "Butter?" She seems awed, but accepts and slathers the bread.#>

**Val eats quietly. Jefferson is chowing down.**

**"All the comforts!" Cal says and Erin giggles.**

<#jonah: "And all the chores!" giggles Ollie, all traces of his accent having vanished over the past 3 years.#>

<#kate: She chomps into the bread and butter, looking at the rest curiously. She wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. "Chores?" #>

**Ms Lizzie says, "Don't worry your head about that child, we will get that sorted in the morning."**

<#ann: "We run the hotel!" Celeste says proudly #>

**Shawn whispers to you, "She means put you to work."**

**Minne glowers at him.**

<#kate: She glances at Lizzy, Minnie then whispers back to Shawn. "But we eat like this?" #>

**Shawn nods, "Every Sunday."**

**Minne says, "A good days work is a Christian's duty." She turns to Ella. "I'm Minne Crocker, pleased to meet you."**

<#kate: "Nice to meet you too. What do you do here?"#>

<#bill: Cole kind of snorts at Minnie's statement. "An orphan's duty."#>

**Minnie says "I do my part helping in the garden."**

<#ann: Celeste shoots her eyes at Minnie then rolls her eyes at Ella. So that Minnie can't see but it's clear that Celeste thinks it's pompous.#>

**Minnie says, "Just because you are an orphan does not mean you cant be a good Christian."** 

**Cal meanwhile does a Minnie impression behind her back.**

<#kate: She frowns a little at Shawn, and seems to be absorbing everyone's reaction to Minnie, her own opinion held in check.#>

**Shawn laughs.**

<#kate: She seems to stifle a giggle.#>

**Minnie wheels around and Cal snaps back into eating giving her a "who me look?"**

<#jonah: Everyone's soup is jiggling a bit. #>

<#kate: She eats bread, trying to hide her smile but she looks askance at the simultaneously jiggling soups....#>

<#jonah: If you look around you realize that Ollie is vibrating with excitement, and the whole table is being affected.#>

<#court: Jeanne nudges Ollie gently and glances from him to the vibrating table.#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks up at his sister, blissfully unaware as to why she might look at him so.#>

<#kate: Her humor dies a little and she nibbles.#>

**Jefferson says, "You should try the (appropriate food item) cooked it up special me and Louis did.**

**"Louis and I." Ms Lizzie corrects.**

<#kate: "It's okay with you?" She asks Jefferson.#>

**Jefferson nods. "I'm Jefferson, pleased to meet you Ella.**

<#kate: "You too...and thanks." She reaches (with her hand) toward whatever the dish is.#>

<#ann: "Jefferson's favorite thing is getting other people to eat his food and tell him how delicious it is." She smiles at Jefferson when she says this. "And it's always delicious"#>

<#kate: "Sure smells good."#>

**Ms Lizzie says, "Deco, eat your food don't draw with it," as the small boy fiddles with his peas. Ms Lizzie notes the reach, before she can respond Minnie says, "Jefferson please pass Ella the <dish>." Ms. Lizzie nods. Jefferson gets an "Oh yeah" expression and passes over the dish.**
 
<#jonah: Shawn half-yells, "Ollie, QUIT IT." #>

**Jefferson blushes at Celeste's compliment.**

<#kate: She plucks / scoops obtains a mouthful of the dish and tries it while looking at Shawn / Ollie.#>

<#jonah: Ollie, somewhat shocked, looks away from the conversations and manages to calm himself down for a few moments.#>

<#court: Jeanne smiles at Ollie, but then puts her hand on his wiggling knee and directs his attention towards Ms. Lizzy before the jiggling soup catches her attention. One gets the sense this scene has taken place before.#>

<#bill: Cole picks up the shaking where Ollie calms down. He's trying to be subtle...but cause a little trouble.#>

**Shawn kicks Cole under the table.**

<#bill: Cole kicks him back.#>

<#ann: Celeste is trying to watch Ella carefully without being creepy or offputting.#>

**Minnie sighs and tries to drink her shaking soup.**

<#kate: She looks at Celeste and Shawn, kind of trying to see if this is normal.#>

<#ann: Celeste grins. "Welcome to the St James Orphanage."#>
  
**Shawn rolls his eyes. Callahan continues to wolf down his soup.**

<#kate: She relaxes a little and grins back at Celeste. She continues to eat Jefferson's dish and her bread with her hands.#>

<#bill: After a minute Cole starts to shake the table again gently with his knee ...he winks at Ollie. Otherwise he appears to be eating his soup.#>

<#court: Jeanne raises one eyebrow at Cole, though she looks amused.#>

<#jonah: Valerie stares at her vibrating soup, her face dour and blank.#>

**Ms Lizzie smacks Cole. "Don't be shaking the table, try to be civilized for one evening."**

<#bill: Cole cough and hacks hard - dramatically choking on the soup that was in his mouth.#>

**Shawn laughs.**

<#bill: "Yes'm".#>

**Ms Lizzie says "Don't be encouraging him Shawn."**

**"Yes'm."**

<#ann: "Are you getting a cold Cole? Maybe you need some cod liver oil" Celeste suggests innocently.#>

**Cal smiles wickedly at Celestes comments, "Yeah he was just shaking like a leaf."**

<#bill: "No, Celeste, thank you. I'm fine. Miss Lizzie's slap just almost took my head clean off..." he says deadpan.#>

<#jonah: Ollie says "I don't have a cold! I like soup!"#>

<#court: Jeanne suppresses a grin and has a bite of soup.#>

**They eat for a while a little more controlled.**

**Shawn whispers to Ella, "You should eat the soup before it gets cold."**

**Erin nods at her and her brother.**

<#kate: "This too?" she whispers back.#>

**Shawn nods.**

<#ann: Celeste is watching out of the corner of her eye, trying to gauge her reaction to the commotion and teasing.#>

<#kate: She looks impressed and picks up her spoon, still holding the bred in one hand. #>

<#jonah: Ollie frowns. "I ate all of mine. I'm still hungry."#>

**Deco cleans his plate and says, loudly "Treat PLEASE!"**

<#bill: Cole pushes his leftover over to Ollie.#>

**Ms Lizzie says, "Not till everyone is done Deco."**

<#jonah: Ollie declares "I'm not done! I can eat lots more!"#>

<#kate: She looks to Jefferson after eating some more of his dish and says "This is great."#>

**Shawn subtly gives his extra bread to Erin.**

<#kate: She picks up the spoon in one hand, holding the bread in the other and tries the soup.#>

**Jefferson beams.**

<#kate: She eats about half and then offers it to Ollie. "You want the rest?"#>

<#jonah: Ollie looks at the others to see if he should.#>

**Cal begins to "help" Minnie.**

**Minnie glowers at him but every time she looks away he slips a little more off her plate.**

<#jonah: Sensing no objections, Ollie takes the half bowl and chows down.#>

<#court: Jeanne looks at Ella in surprise (after she offered food to Ollie), and then speaks, more friendly. "Herbs on soup tonight fresh from de garden. Come out sometime, I will show you."#>

**Cal makes a face, "Green food bleh!" But he says it with a mouthful that says he doesn't mean it.**

<#court: Jeanne sticks her tongue out at him.#>

<#kate: "Okay." She gives the impression she might not quite understand what Jeanne means by herbs and such, but is genuine in accepting the invitation and seems curious to get clarification.#>

<#jonah: Ollie grabs the empty bread bowl and shakes the crumbs into his bowl, and scrapes them out with his spoon.#>

<#kate: She takes a bit more bread then elbows shawn and under the table's edge, offering him the rest.#>

**Shawn makes the bread disappear into his pocket nodding to Ella.**

**As plates finally are clean a wonderful sweet smell comes from the oven and Louis reappears carrying an empty plate.**

**Deco says, "TREAT!!!!"**
  
**Louis starts to sing a song in French.**

<#ann: Celeste sings along.#>

<#kate: Ella looks to Louis, more interested in his singing than the treat. #>

<#court: Jeanne's eyes twinkle and she sings along softly.#>

**Jefferson Minnie and Lizzie also sing.**

**Cal inspects his fork, Valarie sits stock still, Erin sings, and Deco sings off key.**

<#bill: Cole looks happy - but not "excited".#>

<#jonah: Ollie sings loudly.#>

<#kate: She winces a little at Deco's off key singing and Ollie's volume.#>

**When Erin starts singing Shawn sings quietly.**

<#kate: Ella looks like she's trying to grasp the song.#>

<#bill: Cole hums.#>

**Louis dives into the oven and comes out with a plate of hot crossed buns.**

<#court: Jeanne leans over and whispers what it means as it goes(if it looks like Ella does not understand)#>

<#kate: She listens intently to Jeanne and seems really happy to be able to understand and a little awed by it all.#>

<#court: Jeanne nods, satisfied at the reaction, and sits upright again.#>

**Louis serves Cal first, "For the king." He says plopping a bun on his plate. Cal bows to Louis, Lizzie rolls her eyes, "You musn't encourage him."**
 
<#ann: Celeste looks intensely at the interaction between Jeanne and Ella, but relaxes when the song is over.#>

**Louis continues around the table distributing buns. "Every child deserves a dream Ms. Lizzie."**
 
<#kate: Ella nibbles at hers, but stops as she starts looking a little sick and green.#>

<#bill: "Thank you, Louis" Cole says when he gets his.#>

<#kate: "Merci, Monsieur," she says to Louis when she gets her bun.#>

<#ann: Celeste thanks him with a smile.#>

**And You're Welcome Child."**

<#court: "Merci, Louis." She nudges Ollie to remember to say thank you as well #>

<#kate: Ella doesn't look like she's going to be finishing her bun.... #>

**Deco eyes in hungrily.**

<#jonah: Ollie, who has stuffed his entire bun into his mouth whole, tries and fails to say "thanks". You do get a pretty good view into the internal workings of his mouth, however. #>

**Minnie rolls her eyes. Erin giggles.**

<#kate: She breaks her bun in half and offers some to Deco.#>

**Deco snatches it, and is half way though eating it before he looks up at Minnie and Lizzy's twin glares when he says, "Thank you" then wolfs the rest down.**

<#kate: She smiles at him. "Anytime." #>

**After eating Ms Lizzie hustles the children off to bed.**

<#kate: Ella goes along but seems kind of surprised by the operation. She gives the other half of her dessert to Erin along the way. #>


**Below I c/p the chat that brings them though the dinner, people can feel free to pick up and keep rolling from there. Sorry for its raw state, Im trying to maximize my wiki time so I will loop back around if I have time.**