u/Ahh-Islington

Several commentors have mentioned the empty rooms at LLH being used for great community spirit sorts of things that could also have an income benefit (art studio / schoolroom for street children or new neighbors across the street, etc.)

After vol 8 I had another idea that I think Emma would love even more: What about

a fencing studio?   Can't you see Agnes, Parion, and various neighbors in SC's joining in?    Kids'classes during the day, adults at night?  I think Emma would love it and it would invite all kinds of chaos!

I was going through some of my notes today and saw

In June 28 (1883) vol 2, when Islington first comes to LLH, Agnes is singing about a maid that is being forced to wed the wrong man.

So I googled that hint with Scottish popular tunes 1880 and found:

Maids When You Are Young Don’t Marry Old Men

After several verses, the disappointed bride creeps out of bed and into the arms of a jolly young man.

Apparently this version or similar was popular in vaudeville productions during this time especially in England and Scotland - remember Pierce asked EML to a comedy night, but she had other plans - was that the night with Mrs Penury and Mozart, (his music, not his ghost)? He went, she didn’t. She suggested he invite Ben Chambers, he laughed - can you imagine Chambers at a vaudeville? But this would have been a good song for a pirate to hear.

So I am calling Agnes’ song an Easter Egg for Arabella’s story, hopefully in vols 9-10.