"I should give them something to gossip about," Neil says without shame. He shrugs a bit. They're no worse than his friends at Welton had ever been, and so Neil isn't bothered by their giggling and teasing. And, as with teasing Rosie about her friends, sometimes it's nice to give them a little fuel for the fire.

"They're all natives, so they're awfully boring, anyway. I can afford to be the interesting one."