She realised that the further forward she leaned the faster the carpet moved and, straightening up, it slowed till it stopped. If she leaned back a little it went backwards. Maggie felt she had the hang of it now. Moving forward Maggie flew over the Large Stone Lions towards the river. All the animals on the lawns looked up at her. She waved down to them and they wagged their tails and waved back at her. All the birds of the forest flew up beside her and followed her as she flew over the river – she felt like she was part of a huge flock. None of the animals made a sound. They just quietly watched or flew beside her. Maggie leaned to her left and the carpet turned towards the Square where the Stables are and where the laundry-maids, gardeners and the stable-hands lived in little houses.
As she came to one of these she straightened up and the carpet slowed to a stop outside a window where she could see in. A girl about her own age lay curled up in a bed. It was Lily the new laundry maid. Maggie met her when they both came to start their new jobs on the estate yesterday. Lily was sleeping soundly, so too were the two other laundry maids in small bunk-beds against the back wall. Maggie hoped she and Lily could be friends.